Third Match Report

Hello again everyone back home.

Match report

Saturday 29th July KO 2pm

CIS RUFC 50 - Zuid Holland 26

Try scorers: Frank Mayfield (2 tries and top try scorer on tour), Andy Bryce (2 tries, 2 cons), Jon Friend (2 tries) Pete Nicholas, Alex Zarifeh, (Ben May conversions)

Man of the Match:  Ralph Mercer


Without going into too much detail, this match, although the score may not reflect it, was a highly contested match. It was played in the searing heat of the mid day sun (mad dogs and Englishmen springs to mind.)

Just to clarify Zuid Holland was a representative team made up of players from three different clubs in South Holland. The match was played at a club in Rotterdam, with posts this time.

By half time the score was 26 points to 21 in favour of the travelling side. Both the first and second half provided some moments of brilliance, there were some opportunistic tries for both sides and intercepted passes seemed to be a theme for the game. Having said that it was another match thoroughly enjoyed by all, demonstrating good running rugby.  CIS ended up well ahead making it three wins out of three on tour.

Much more importantly though, this tour has provided each of us with a great opportunity to live as Christians in the often formidable rugby setting. To ''pray, play, say'', to encourage one another and work in unity as ambassadors for Christ amongst fellow sportsmen. It’s surely not a week to be forgotten and indeed hopefully we will be able to bring some of our experiences and what we have learned into our clubs back in the UK and have an impact there too.

A special word of thanks to Bryan Mason, Tour Manager, who provided us with very useful Christian teaching and encouragement as we met each day to pray.

A final thank you again to everyone back home for all your prayers and support,

From the whole team:
Ben Ockenden, Andy Bryce, Ben May, Greg Morgan, Mike Smith, Pete Nicholas, Tom Harris, Jon Friend, Neil Thompson, Angus McDowell, Frank Mayfield, Chris Hutton, Tim Friend, Ralph Mercer, Ross Jackson, Dan Baldwin, Johnny Hannah, Dave Smith, Bob Ockenden, Alex Zarifeh, Neil Roe, Stevie George, Tom Hocking.

God Bless

Ralph Mercer
Tour communications officer for CIS Rugby tour Holland