Young Alberton rugby players make rugby history
Blake and Blayden loves the hard contact matches that rugby brings.
BLAKE Neale and Blayden Heytmayer are two up and coming young rugby players who were part of the u-13 Golden Lions team who was the first of that age group to win the ITP tour.
To make this achievement more commendable is that the boys’ school does not offer rugby as a sport.
Blayden played lock for the Lions team and Blake eighth man.
The RECORD spoke to the boys about the memorable moments of the tour as well as their rugby career.
In the spirit
Something the boys both agreed on that draws them to rugby, as well as being a source of great enjoyment for them on the tour, is the comradeship among the team members. Whether it be on the field or the fun that is had together in the hostels. It is something they enjoyed immensely.
Two memorable games during the tour were the times their team played against the Blue Bulls team.
“I was nervous before the start of the game,” said Blake about the first game which was played under terrible weather conditions.
“Once we started though I enjoyed playing the game.”
Unfortunately, they lost the first game, the only one that they lost during the tour. They do admit that this perhaps played to their advantage in the final when they came against the Bulls again. The team perhaps underestimated the lions and coming out swinging the Lions triumphed 12-5.
Big dreams, great moments
Blayden explained that one of the greatest moments he would never forget was after the final when all of the players from across the Lions teams ran onto the field to hug and congratulate the young team that just made history.
Blayden spoke to the record about his favourite part of rugby.
“I like the contact and hitting my opponent hard,” said Blayden. This sentiment is shared by Blake who added that it’s a forwards job to play the man.
Blayden and Blake are looking forward to next year when they will be starting high school. For them this will be the first time that they will be part of their own schools’ teams. They are a bit nervous about this as they would like to excel in school rugby as well, but the excitement of it being part of their school experience is important for the boys.
Both Blake and Blayden have their dreams set on their rugby careers, aiming to follow in the shoes of such players as Bakkies Botha and Malcolm Marx and play in the Green and Gold. These two players are certainly worth looking out for as future rugby stars.
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