Day #9 - Sagami and Game day!!!

Today was one of those days where you felt that you had absorbed the culture of Japan. The boys today were able to intermingle with students from Sagami high school in a way that I haven’t seen them interact this entire tour.

It started with a japanese calligraphy display from a group of young ladies that welcomed us to their school. They were all a part of the Japanese calligraphy club called kenji. From here we were taking into a classroom and enjoyed making fans for our loved ones with Japanese kenji writing on each side. Many of the boys love this and enjoyed learning something new from the morning activity.

Lunch was served in the dining hall of a Sagami HS, and then it was time for game.

The under 14‘s had not had a victory this tour but today played out of their skins, and really displayed athletic ability not seen during this rugby season. Even though we were down at half time the under 14‘s stepped up in the second half and insure a win for us on the last game in the tour. It was a very proud moment for all of us particularly as this school so one of the best rugby schools in Japan. Below is the scoreline,

The game v Tokai Sagami HS were ;

 Sagami U14

1st half - try, try, K

2nd

Final Score - 12

TSS u14

1st - Rameau try,

2nd - will Carter try, Emerson R try, carter try, Dwyer K

Final score - 22

Man of the Match- Lachlan Murphy/Emerson Rameau

In the opens match today they certainly knew they’d came up against one of the best side in Japan. This side push them to limit and ended up scoring quite a few tries against our tired yet enthusiastic defence. The school line below indicates how the match went.

TSS Open

1st - NIL

2nd - Vousty try

Final score - 5

Sagami

1st - try, k, try, k, try, try, k

2nd - try, k, try, k, try, k, try, k, try, k

Final score - 61

Man of the Match- Syris Schmidt

After a wonderful post match celebration we are both schools made speeches about the game and then we watch the final few minutes of the Ireland versus Japan rugby match. It was a great match made even more special for us being in Japan at the same time and with our hosts at Sagami high school.

The boys are now at their billets and will enjoy what has been a wonderful experience for them staying and being hosted by families each of the three nights on this trip. Tomorrow we head back into town and prepare ourselves for the Australia versus Wales match on Saturday afternoon.

Best regards,

Ian Browne