Mike Lazarz Trip Report #1
The second week of school started off good, I'm in Williams house, in case I didn’t tell you already. We have six school periods a day. I'm taking Science, Calculus, Study, Religious Studies, Human Biology, English, Drama. Most of the classes are pretty easy because of the seasons difference, except calculus.
The boarding houses are great. All the guys are cool, friendly and just really relaxed. We joke, hang out, go to breakfast, lunch and dinner together. On the weekends, the guys that stay in school go into town and go to the movies. Last weekend, we saw Shooter, and this past weekend we saw Spider Man 3. This weekend is a leave weekend, so we have to be out of the school on Monday, Tuesday, so I might be going to a guys house for the weekend.
Tuesday training in the second week was very intense as we had lost our previous game 20-13. So Tuesday was conditioning and skills work, as in patterns and other things to help us remember our game plan. Wednesday, was individual skills, back, forwards and other things. All to prepare us for a rival game against Hamilton Boys High 2nd XV, which we would win 31-0. And this week we have the biggest game of the year against Hamilton Boys High 1st XV.
Week 3
The last week of school was very good. We had road relay which is where the 7 houses compete in a relay, where there are 4 junior runners, 4 intermediate runners, and 4 senior runners. They each run a leg and tag the next. I ran first for the senior A team, and our houses overall finish was 3rd. It really built house camaraderie and was really fun to do.
The following day the 1st XV played the 4th best team in New Zealand (Hamilton Boys High 1st XV) and we lost 42-0. To their credit they lived up to their name and really showed me what a very experienced and determined side can do.
The leave weekend was just this last weekend, and I went out to Otorohanga and stayed on the farm owned by my friend’s parents. I saw sheep, cattle, chickens, and turkeys, and was able to experience the true kiwi farm life. I also got to enjoy, meat pies and kiwi burgers, yes they are real.
While I’ve been down here, I’ve learned so much in such a short time. I'm now playing Centre, and winger, for the 2nd XV, though I have been getting some playing time for the 1st XV in the first couple of weeks, I’ll get more game time with the 2nd XV. We play Fraser HS away this weekend (May 19).
I've learned new drills, techniques and training tools that I will be sure to use when I return. My overall skills have improved as well, because the pace is extremely fast, mostly because these players have been playing for at least 10 years and they just know what they have to do, and they watch the pros do it all the time.
Mike Lazarz