28 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>July</strong> <strong>23</strong> <strong>2020</strong>
Thursday <strong>July</strong> <strong>23</strong> <strong>2020</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> • By Reuben Mama WHEN replacement prop Jack Jones took his place on the Christ’s College bench ahead of their match against bitter rivals Christchurch Boys’ High School on Saturday, he could’ve never imagined 65min later he’d have his name etched in history. Jones scored one of the most spectacular individual tries seen in this prestigious contest, to give his school just their second win over CBHS in 20 years, as they hung on to be 28-27 victors. Said Christ’s coach Reuben Thorne: “It was right in front of us, so we were pretty pumped. Jack’s a dynamic guy, he’s a front-rower, but at school he competes in the 100m sprint, so is that sort of athlete. It was a really special moment and fantastic he had the ability to come on and turn the game like that.” It was a game that had everything, with passion and desire oozing out of both schools on and off the field. Both sides traded tries early, before CBHS right winger Will Brownie scored two tries in quick succession including an astounding contorting finish for his first five-pointer to give the visitors a 15-8 advantage. Christ’s added a penalty through first-five Nick Shearer, before midfielder Angus Hammett barged over for a converted try to give Christ’s an Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz JUBILANT: Jack Jones dives over to score the winning try that secured Christ’s College’s second win over Christchurch Boys’ High School in 20 years at Christs’ College on Saturday. He celebrates after scoring. Replacement prop the hero in Christ’s narrow win PACE: Jones on his 25m run to the try line. PHOTOS: GETTY 18-15 advantage at the break. Consistent pressure from CBHS in the second half saw them edge in front 22-18. <strong>The</strong>y looked to have landed a killer blow in the 48th-minute, when co-captain and centre Callum Saunders latched onto a Christ’s cut-out ball and raced 55m to score in front of the biggest contingent of his supporters. <strong>The</strong>y stormed the in-goal and enveloped Simpson in a collective embrace which typified just what this rivalry means. Shearer closed the gap to 27-21 with a well-taken drop goal under advantage and it was game on for the final 15min. Christ’s continued to build pressure on the CBHS goal line. Guy Jensen was shown a yellow card for one too many team penalties, leaving CBHS to play out the remainder of the game with 14 players. <strong>The</strong>n came the pivotal moment of the game. CBHS failed to find touch and relieve pressure from a penalty, which enabled Christ’s to venture into their half. After seven phases the ball fell into the hands of Jones in the 17 jersey. Defying his propping stature, he dummied to his outside backs, stepped off his left foot and beat three defenders, galloping 25m and diving under the post to score the matchwinning try with 4min to play. – NZ Herald SPORT 29 Teenager’s chance to fulfil European dream YOUNG Christchurch United prodigy Oscar Obel-Hall is flying to Denmark this week to join Superliga club Esbjerg fB and fulfil his dream of playing for a European club. Obel-Hall only turned 16 in May and is considered as one of the biggest football talents to come out of Canterbury in recent years. New Zealand players usually do not to get a foot in the door at European clubs at such a Oscar Obel-Hall young age, but Obel-Hall’s dual Danish citizenship enables him to compete as a local player. “I feel super-lucky. That Danish passport is definitely my golden ticket,” says Obel-Hall whose Danish mother Camilla will travel with him to help him get set up. “Once I am all sorted with my apartment and with a new school, my mum will head back to New Zealand and I will be looking after myself. It will be a great experience,” says the teenager who has played in the Christchurch United first team under former All Whites star Danny Halligan for the past two seasons, regularly competing in the Mainland Premier League. Obel-Hall last year trialled at professional clubs in Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark and went back this year to Winston Reid’s former club, FC Midtjylland, who were interested in signing him. “Unfortunately, they had no spots left on their roster but recommended me to Esbjerg fB,” Obel-Hall said. Obel-Hall will initially join the club’s under-17 squad and can’t wait to test himself against his peers on a day-to-day basis. 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