THE SPOILS were shared between The Armidale School and Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School when they met for competition in six sports at TAS last Thursday.
The hosts took out the coveted First XV Challenge Shield while Farrer reclaimed the Dick Hodgson Shield for overall competition.
Played in the rain and wind under lights at Doody Park’s number one oval, the Firsts’ rugby clash was the final competition of the day, with TAS coming out victors 27-0 in conditions similar to ones in which they defeated St Ignatius College Riverview 17-10 in the GPS competition the weekend before.
“The boys controlled possession and played the ball well in very ordinary playing conditions, so to keep Farrer to zero was pretty amazing,” coach Alex Smith said.
“With two consecutive games in such conditions under the belt hopefully it will be sunny when Newington College visit next weekend and they can play a more expansive game.”
TAS also took out the Second XV match 31-5, however the visitors claimed majority of the other rugby games, winning the Thirds, 16As, 15Bs, 14Bs and 13As, with TAS up in the 15As, 14As and a 17-17 draw in the 16Bs. On an adjacent oval, the footballers were battling it out, and the TAS First XI elevated their efforts in the second half, taking the score to 7-0 at full time.
TAS 16s won their game 4-3, whilst Farrer was too strong in both the 14s (3-0) and 13s (2-1).
Before the rain, TAS won the only hockey games but went down to Farrer in both junior and senior tennis.
Both basketball games went to the visitors – the senior team only narrowly, the junior team considerably– while the hosts were better on the boards, winning the chess 7-1.
At the end of the day, Farrer reclaimed the Dick Hodgson Shield, 10 points to nine.
“Both schools look forward to this fixture which has been going since 2011 – so many of the boys now in year 12 played in the first competition, when they were in Year 7,” TAS Director of Co-curricular Will Caldwell said.
“While the range of has varied over the years - there has been clay target shooting in the past and this year we had hoped to include water polo – it is the breadth of the competition that makes it important and something both schools value.”
