Mid Canterbury Combined’s Christian Thompson looks to the referee for confirmation of a try during his side’s loss to Roncalli College. Photo Heather MackenzieMid Canterbury Combined’s 15-10 loss to Roncalli College on the rugby field on Saturday could have been different, had a bit of luck been on their side.

The sixth round match of the Crusaders region’s secondary schools’ rugby competition – the UC Championship – against the Timaru side was one that the combination Ashburton College and Mount Hutt College side had targeted to win, and they came agonisingly close.

So coach Brent Middleton said to lose was disappointing, although it wasn’t a bad performance.

“In big parts of the game they did play well, but they did go to sleep at times, too,” Middleton said.

“It was close, but not close enough.”

He said it was a good game of rugby.

“It was very intense and very tight and I imagine, and from talking to a few spectators, that although the result didn’t go our way, it was a good game to watch,” Middleton said.

Roncalli were first on the board with a penalty, and that was followed by a good team try from the home side, which was finished off by Tom Middleton to give Mid Canterbury Combined a 5-3 lead.

But it was short-lived, with Roncalli scoring a try of their own to lead 10-5, before Christian Thompson got one back for Mid Canterbury just before half-time to make it 10-all at the break.

Both sides performed well in the second half, and Mid Canterbury put a lot of pressure on before the visitors pounced and took the lead with what Middleton called an opportunist try.

Mid Canterbury Combined created a lot of opportunities late in the game, and were unlucky not to score, with the bounce of the ball and a couple of dropped passes letting them down.

Middleton said his players possibly got a bit too excited late in the game, and went away from their game plan a little when they needed to show patience.

They’d take the performance and build on it though, and knew they’d need to step things up a notch against a strong St Thomas of Canterbury side this Saturday.

Mid Canterbury Combined sre again playing at home at the Ashburton College field this weekend, and Middleton said the visiting side will be one of the more physical teams they come up against.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 11 June 2019