Monday 4 August 2008
The Prize Winners
Player of the tour: Danny Gallindo
Players Player of the tour: Will Denham
Best Tourist: Tom Harrison
All recieved an engraved tankard.
Boschendal
The ifnal day of the tour took us to a vineyard out towards Stellenbosch called Boschendahl. The vineyard was situated in an orchard with mountains and forests in the back drop.
They were greeted with sherry (for adults) and grape juice for the lads before enjoying an amazing buffet.
As you can see the lads were quite at home in a psoh restaurant.
"Dance off" with Milnerton
The hosting finished with an impromptu dance off with Tom Rowan and one of their guys.
Lads exchange gifts
The Milnerton lads were given out tour ties and it was a great touch to see them all turn up to school the following day proudly wearing their MFG tour ties.
Lads say goodbye to Milnerton
We picked up the team at 8:00am in the morning and they were buzzing about the great night they had had with the Milnerton lads. Tom Rowan had a danceoff with one of their guys before we got on the bus.
The staff enjoying cocktails
Whilst the lads were being hosted the staff had time to relax and enjoy the Cape Town night life.
Sunday 3 August 2008
Final Post
A few parents have asked if the blog is temporary - as far as i know it is a permanent site that can be read and added to in the future.
I would like to sign off with a huge thanks to the staff who came on the trip who were great travel companions and provided a lot of fun and laughter for the lads.
Thanks also to all the staff and families who hosted out lads in South Africa. Without exception the lads enjoyed all three of their billets and the South Africans displayed a huge amount of generosity. They opened up their homes to the boys and treated them as their own for 2-3 days and for that we will always be very grateful. Their rugby was always very fast and very hard and we hope one day to have a rematch with on British soil where we can repay the favour.
I would also like to commend the players for doing the school, their country, the coaches and most of all themselves proud. They were superb on the field and very disciplined and behaved off it.
One final plea to the players would be to keep the momentum going next year where the Yorkshire Cup has to be the primary goal. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to hear that you had won the county cup at Under 16's in 2009. The way we played in South Africa makes it a very realistic prospect.
Thanks for all the wonderful memories over the last five years. As strange as it may sound I am glad that I am leaving the school as I couldnt think of a better way to go out. Good luck to you all for the future, both on and off the rugby pitch.
Mr Sprott
I would like to sign off with a huge thanks to the staff who came on the trip who were great travel companions and provided a lot of fun and laughter for the lads.
Thanks also to all the staff and families who hosted out lads in South Africa. Without exception the lads enjoyed all three of their billets and the South Africans displayed a huge amount of generosity. They opened up their homes to the boys and treated them as their own for 2-3 days and for that we will always be very grateful. Their rugby was always very fast and very hard and we hope one day to have a rematch with on British soil where we can repay the favour.
I would also like to commend the players for doing the school, their country, the coaches and most of all themselves proud. They were superb on the field and very disciplined and behaved off it.
One final plea to the players would be to keep the momentum going next year where the Yorkshire Cup has to be the primary goal. Nothing would give me more pleasure than to hear that you had won the county cup at Under 16's in 2009. The way we played in South Africa makes it a very realistic prospect.
Thanks for all the wonderful memories over the last five years. As strange as it may sound I am glad that I am leaving the school as I couldnt think of a better way to go out. Good luck to you all for the future, both on and off the rugby pitch.
Mr Sprott
The Final Day
I seem to have lost the cable that links my camera to USB - if anyone finds it in their bags please let me know and then i can upload the last of the pictures.
The final day was relativley uneventful. All the lads who were found guilty in the tour court completed their punishments. The highlight was Jordan Lowther who spat his dummy out at The Paarl game in front of hundreds of bemused onlookers.
On the way to the game we were also interviewed by South Africans sports channel. That makes it 3 tv appearances for the tour (Coronation Street, Western Province game on Sky and this). The show (called "Classic Clashes") is due to be aired on monday but you can watch it online at www.superschools.co.za or you may be able to catch it on utube.
The match however was far from a classic as both Paarl Gym and Paarl Boys engaged in a droll kicking duel. The spectacle was amzing though as 20-30,000 people descended on the stadium to watch the main event (the Under 19's game).
From there we went to the airport and had an overnight flight back to the UK - all safe and sound back in Mirfield by 11:30am.
The final day was relativley uneventful. All the lads who were found guilty in the tour court completed their punishments. The highlight was Jordan Lowther who spat his dummy out at The Paarl game in front of hundreds of bemused onlookers.
On the way to the game we were also interviewed by South Africans sports channel. That makes it 3 tv appearances for the tour (Coronation Street, Western Province game on Sky and this). The show (called "Classic Clashes") is due to be aired on monday but you can watch it online at www.superschools.co.za or you may be able to catch it on utube.
The match however was far from a classic as both Paarl Gym and Paarl Boys engaged in a droll kicking duel. The spectacle was amzing though as 20-30,000 people descended on the stadium to watch the main event (the Under 19's game).
From there we went to the airport and had an overnight flight back to the UK - all safe and sound back in Mirfield by 11:30am.
Friday 1 August 2008
Last day: Paarl Derby
For the fianl day i have managed to get tickets for the Paarl Derby. This is a school fixture between the state school Paarl Gym and the private school Paarl Boys. Both are in the top 10 schools in South Africa.
We are going to watch the under 15's game where i have been told there will be a crowd of 20,000 - bit more exciting than the Castle Hall vs MFG derby!!
We are going to watch the under 15's game where i have been told there will be a crowd of 20,000 - bit more exciting than the Castle Hall vs MFG derby!!
Tour Court
As is customary the tour finished with a tour court.
Briggsy was up again for being a disgrace to touring. At every game or functionhe has managed to look scruffy and has lost most of his kit around South Africa. Aaron is obvioulsy unable to look after himself so as punishment he will be dressed by the staff for the final day. Keep an eye out for what we make him wear when i manage to get some pictures on.
Ben Booth And John Hall was charged with never scoring a try. Ben is one of the best players on tour and in recent years but has failed to cross the white wash. John despite his size has also never scored. Ben gave a stirling defence about judging his performance on tackles not tries but it was to no avail as both were found guilty. A race was et up with the loser having to buy the winner a gift. Ben lost!!
Lowther was charged with being a baby for spitting his dummy out against Manneberg and refusing to play. He was targeted by their players and offered little protection from the ref so walked off refusing to play the 2nd half!! His punishment will be to have a dummy which he must spit out on the trigger word "Mannenberg"!
Briggsy was up again for being a disgrace to touring. At every game or functionhe has managed to look scruffy and has lost most of his kit around South Africa. Aaron is obvioulsy unable to look after himself so as punishment he will be dressed by the staff for the final day. Keep an eye out for what we make him wear when i manage to get some pictures on.
Ben Booth And John Hall was charged with never scoring a try. Ben is one of the best players on tour and in recent years but has failed to cross the white wash. John despite his size has also never scored. Ben gave a stirling defence about judging his performance on tackles not tries but it was to no avail as both were found guilty. A race was et up with the loser having to buy the winner a gift. Ben lost!!
Lowther was charged with being a baby for spitting his dummy out against Manneberg and refusing to play. He was targeted by their players and offered little protection from the ref so walked off refusing to play the 2nd half!! His punishment will be to have a dummy which he must spit out on the trigger word "Mannenberg"!
Penultimate day
On Friday we visited a vineyard and had a fantastic meal in the beautiful surroundings of Boschendal. We also went to the leopard centre but the ques were too big to have photos taken with them.
On the final evening we all went out with shirt and ties to one of the best restaurants on the water fron, Belthazars. The lads were suitably impressed with the quality of the food and a good time was had by all.
On the final evening we all went out with shirt and ties to one of the best restaurants on the water fron, Belthazars. The lads were suitably impressed with the quality of the food and a good time was had by all.
Milnerton hosts
We picked the lads up after a three day hosting in Milnerton (most of whom were hosted on their own). Everyone had had a good time and the Milnerton boys had gone to a lot of effort to keep them entertained. They had all been ice skating and the cinema. Lots of gifts and emails exchanged before we got on the bus.
Definatley the best billet yet and a lots of new friends made.
Definatley the best billet yet and a lots of new friends made.
Awards
The Player of the tour went to Danny Galindo for five consistently high performances. Lowther and Briggs were runners up.
Players player was close with Jamie M getting four votes, Harry 8 votes and Will Denham 12 votes. Will has impressed all with his fitness and aggression this tour.
Best tourist runners up were Conor who has been good fun all tour. Harry for being a good role model on and off thepitch. The winner was Tom Harrison who has embraced all part sof touring and been good fun through out.
All three players recieved silver engraved tankards.
Players player was close with Jamie M getting four votes, Harry 8 votes and Will Denham 12 votes. Will has impressed all with his fitness and aggression this tour.
Best tourist runners up were Conor who has been good fun all tour. Harry for being a good role model on and off thepitch. The winner was Tom Harrison who has embraced all part sof touring and been good fun through out.
All three players recieved silver engraved tankards.
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