Kate Donald goes on a searching run around the Craighead defence in Methven last week. Photo Matt MarkhamThe girls did it quite easily, but the boys were up against it before they even took to the field in school rugby last week.

With matches deferred to mid-week to allow for the Mount Hutt College Ball on Friday night, Mid Canterbury schools’ combined sides played their matches on Wednesday afternoon.

The Mid Canterbury Combined Schools’ 1st XV faced a tough task in their trip to Christchurch to take on schoolboy rugby powerhouse, Christchurch Boys’ High School.

Despite the glaringly obvious difference in student population and funding, the Mid Canterbury lads took it to their city opposition in the first quarter and produced an outstanding effort.

Unfortunately that told late in the game as CBHS ran away with the game to win 73-6, but there was plenty to take from the match for coaches Gary McCann and Simon Fleetwood.

In Methven, late on Wednesday afternoon, the Ash Hutt Girls’ side put on an impressive display to beat Craighead 34-12 in the Aoraki School Girls’ Competition.

The girls put their rivals to the sword in the opening 40 minutes of the game, scoring four tries to lead 22-0 at the break.

Tries came courtesy of Tyla Harraway, Erana Te Moananui and a brace to her sister Chloe.

Through some lethal defence and powerful running, the Ash Hutt girls were able to out-muscle their opposition in all facets of the game for the opening stanza.

Craighead threw everything they had at Ash Hutt in the second half, but a second try for Erana and an outstanding 90 metre solo effort from Kate Donald put the game beyond doubt as the girls led 34-0.

To their credit Craighead never gave up and were rewarded with two late tries within the final minutes of the game to improve the score line to 34-12.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian - 28 May 2017