MBC Falcons flying high

The Marlborough Boys’ College Falcons rugby section has reached new heights this season.

On the back of the MBC First XV’s Plate final victory in the prestigious Miles Toyota competition, the college’s junior teams have also tasted success.

In the Tasman under-15 grade the MBC Blue team swept to a comprehensive 66-21 win over Nelson White in that competition’s final, which was staged at College Park. The young College side took some time to find their feet but dominated the second spell to underline their supremacy in the grade.

The MBC Gold team finished third, prevailing 50-19 over Nelson College Kahurangi in the play-off for the minor placings.

The Tasman under-17 final was dominated by MBC, with the Gold team winning a tight encounter over their Blue schoolmates 16-13, illustrating the closeness of the two sides throughout a successful season.

In the semifinals MBC Blue downed Nelson College Kahurangi 56-12, while Gold won by default over Nelson College Cambridge.

Adding to the season’s highlights package was the announcement today that three MBC First XV players had been chosen to attend the 2023 Junior Crusaders camp in early October. They are hooker Johnny Vakaloa, fullback/winger Leo Marfell and first five Hugh Robinson. After the camp coaches will choose a 35-strong squad to travel to Blenheim for a fixture against the Junior Hurricanes on October 7.

School exchange

Earlier this week a group of MBC teams travelled south for the annual St Bede’s College exchange. The under-15 rugby side beat their southern counterparts 14-12, while the 2^ndXV lost 29-14.

In other sports, the first hockey XI drew 1-1, the squash team won 4-1, the junior football crew won 3-2, the football first XI lost 2-5, the junior basketballers went down 80- 90 and the senior basketball side lost 55-84.

Later in August MBC will host the South Island under-15 boys rugby tournament, with nine schools involved.