In the words tweeted by Dulwich College Rugby, ‘Rugby is about so much more.’ Indeed, it is, particularly when playing a historic fixture. There is always a great sense of tradition and significance regarding this fixture, and the passion of 138 years of rugby history was evident at every level on Saturday 14 October. The Dulwich teams were perhaps more battle-hardened and won all the tight games bar one, and what a great game this was! Both U16A teams showed a collective desire not to give the opposition the edge, and yet managed to remain calm and composed in attack to look consistently threatening. Bedford pushed the hardest for the win and were rewarded in the dying moments of the match with the score that sealed victory.
The only other team to overcome their opponents was the U15A team. They were determined to right a few early season wrongs, and worked tirelessly for the full match to come out with a comfortable points difference in their favour – and in some style too. Just the confidence booster they needed before they play Bedford Modern School in the first round of the National Plate competition on Tuesday.
The U14D and E teams continue to impress with their development. Although both teams lost, the games were tight – a clear indication of their competitive edge.
It is onwards to Haileybury on Thursday and the final test of the half term. Hopefully, all teams can reflect on their Dulwich experience in a positive way and continue their upward trend in performance.