25/03/2025
Game 6 match report
Saturday 22/03/2025
Barbarians vs Livingstone Rhinos Rugby Club
Reporting duties for the final match of the tour has been handed to a couple of the younger lads on tour, Jayden Robertson Biloela Rugby Union Club and Peter Hurst Condamine Cods.
The final match of the tour took place in Livingston, Zambia. The boys rolled out of their tents at the Zambezi waterfront not knowing what to expect of the day but soon enough everyone’s eyes were opened as to what the African lifestyle may look like for some of the locals.
We started the morning by gearing up and hit the field where we would play later that day, this is when we would usually do our captains run to lock in for the game, this day was a little bit different however. We were met by some of the local kids at the field that wanted to meet some Aussies and learn about the game they love. We ran a training clinic with the local children for an hour or so, you could see the smiles on these kids faces from miles away.
Coming into the tour the guys packed some extra gear from their home clubs and some other little bits and pieces collected along the way, at the end of the clinic the boys got the chance to hand out the gear to the kids that may not be as fortunate as we are, this left a lump in everyone’s throat and was truly a heart warming experience for everyone involved.
After a swim and a bit of down time it was time for jersey presentation and we were off to the field. As we got there, we were met with the whole town at the field to support their community rugby as a local scratch match between the kids was underway, presenting us with the kind of talent this place has to offer.
Before we took to the field, a water truck rolled in to soften the half dirt half grass pitch we would play on. The mayor of Livingston also made a guest appearance presenting us with a speech he had prepared earlier that morning, and shortly after the boys were ready for kickoff.
The Rhinos came out strong getting an early two tries on us leading the match 12-0, it was not long after however when some impressive ball work by the boys got Harold Mial Burdekin Canetoads a screamer in the corner. Harold went back to back in the same spot to then level the score at 12-12 after a Jay Meyer Harlequin Rugby Club Melbourne conversion. A smart quick tap on the 5 by captain Gruff Thomas and a very nice pick and go from co-captain Michael Celona Cloncurry Rugby Union put the two lads over the line as-well, leaving us with a half time score of 24-22 to the Baba’s.
With an inspirational spray from Andrew Kliese and the bomb squad ready to take the field the boys were ready to close the match out. The lads came out strong and after some strong ball running Andy Mcveigh (Condamine Cods) found himself over the try line in the opening minutes of the half.
With a big shift of defense from the guys in our own 22 and then followed by some well executed set pieces gets us right back down the field where Josh Florence’s (False Bay) impressive left foot step gets him over the line for a try of his own.
The scrums from the forwards this tour have been a big part of the team’s success with the boys dominating the rhinos through out the entire game with even pushing them off their own ball multiple times.
The final try of the game that rounded out this tour, came off a very strong scrum 10 meters off the oppositions line was driven into the in goal, as the man of eyes up footy Vinnie Quigley Mullumbimby Moonshiners Rugby Club takes the ball and dives over the line. This excellent play left the Baba’s with a well earned win of 37-29 over the Rhinos.
It was tough picking a singular man of the match for this game as the whole side displayed an incredible effort. But there were three players that stood out from the rest with hard fought defense, strong ball caries and witty turnovers; Will Eastwood Dalby & District Rugby Union Football Club, Peter Hurst and Andy Mcveigh (Condamine Cods) all were rightfully awarded men of the match.
