The Mid Canterbury Combined Schools 1st XV perform their haka ahead of their clash against Christ’s College earlier this year. Photo Robyn HoodThe Mid Canterbury Combined Schools 1st XV wrapped up their season on Saturday with a 27-8 loss against Waimea Combined, but co-coach Gary McCann was more than happy with the performance from his side, labelling “fantastic”.

“We had five boys for which this would be their last game and the boys really rallied and lifted for that,” he said.

“They are a team that are in the top eight but we were very much in the game throughout.

“As the parents had been saying all this season, these are a group of boys that don’t give up and they proved that with a try right in last minute.”

As McCann has said throughout the season, they always knew this was going to be a building year, with the squad ready to benefit in the coming years.

“There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that these boys are going to be better for the experience that they have had in 1st XV rugby this year,” he said.

“When you are losing only five at this stage out of 24 players, that is a big thing.”

McCann said one of the big aims coming in to this season was to create a great culture amongst the players with it being the first year of a combined team between Mount Hutt College and Ashburton College.

“The culture amongst these boys just gives you goose-pimples, the team is one to never give-up and they fight to the death,” he said.

While they have not had much success on the field, only picking up one win against Roncalli Combined, McCann said there was always a positive attitude from the team, and always good turnouts to training.

Support for the side was strong throughout the year, with Ashburton College principal Ross Preece even flying to Nelson to watch the side play.

“There have been so many happy moment this season but the best things was seeing the joy on the boys faces after getting a win,” said McCann.

“At the last game the boys performed their haka and everybody shivered, it was special.”

While the job of a 1st XV coach is not gifted, McCann said he hoped that him and fellow co-coach Simon Fleetwood had shown enough to carry on next year.

“Simon and I are dead-set keen to be selected next year.

“We have built some huge bricks and it would fantastic to get back at it,” he said.

On top of the win against Roncalli College, a narrow 13-15 loss to Lincoln High School and a 17-39 loss against Christ’s College where Mid Canterbury were leading at half-time were also the sides stand-out performances of the season.

The team eventually finished 13th on the UC Championship ladder, ahead of Roncalli Combined and Burnside High School.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 15 August 2017