Northcliff in Argentina
Recently Northcliff High School of Johannesburg enjoyed the excitement of a rugby tour to Argentina. This is their report from Tinus Diedericks.
A group of 32 excited travellers met before dawn on Friday 23 March. Their planned destination was Argentina. An uncomfortable two hour flight delay could not contain the excitement of all.
The first stop was the cosmopolitan and vibrant city of Buenos Aires. We spent our first night in the Duomi Hotel which is next to a magnificent Roman Catholic cathedral which we explored the next morning before our departure to Rosario.
Rosario, a town on the banks of the Parana River (the eighth biggest river in the world with a population of billions of mosquitoes) was our next stop and also the place where the players had their closest experience of the way of living in Argentina. Being hosted by Argentine families for two nights after our match against Old Resians Rugby Club showed them what real life is about – ‘braaing’ at eleven at night, eating at one in the morning and going to bed at three! We were victorious against Old Resians – 50–21. Old Resians have a strong link to Collegiate St Bartlomieu, one of the oldest schools in Argentina. Seven tries (Anton Petrenko, Callum Pedzinski, Michael Renwick, David Renwick, Daron Hendricks, Brendon Coombes and Conor Bailey) and a personal contribution of 20 points by David Renwick were too much for them to handle!
Club Atletico Del Rosario founded in 1867 and one of the four founder members of the Argentine Rugby Union, was our next opponent. A false sense of ‘rugby is easy in Argentina’ played a role in our defeat of 27-12. A try each by Kyle Benetti-Longhini and Michael Cromhout with one conversion by David Renwick was all we could show for our efforts. This was a hard rugby lesson.
Our next stop: the coastal town of Mar Del Plata after an overnight bus drive. The splendour of the marble floored entrance lobby of the Grand Hotel will not be matched easily by any other hotel in the world. After a scrumptious continental Argentine breakfast (no bacon and eggs!) a city tour followed where the boys experienced the sights and sounds and smells of Mar Del Plata.
The trip to Club Universitario Der Mar Del Plata through the poor shanty town area of Mar Del Plata was certainly an experience. A hard fought match against a University team, in which the lead changed hands several times was eventually won by Universitario 38-31. Two tries by Nizaam Griffiths and one each by Anton Petrenko and Conor Bailey as well as a perfect kicking display by David Renwick (four conversions and a penalty) was just not enough.
A whistle stop visit to the colourful Carminito village on our way back to the Duomi Hotel in Buenos Aires followed. The Gaucho ranch visit on the Sunday gave the travellers an insight into the lifestyle of traditional Argentine farmers. The lunch on the farm – from chorizo (Argentine “boerewors’), blood sausage, polo (chicken) and ribs will be remembered forever.
The city tour of Buenos Aires on Sunday before our departure included visits to the Pink Palace (their parliament building made famous by Madonna and her rendition of ‘Don’t Cry for Me Argentina’ in the movie with the same name), and the gravesite of Eva Peron in the Recolleto graveyard with its elaborate catacombs reserved for the rich and famous. It also included a ‘tube’ train ride.
It was a tired and bleary eyed group of travellers which returned to home shores after an overnight flight from Buenos Aires. The memories, the friendships forged during the tour, the camaraderie on and off the field, will remain forever etched in the minds of all who were part of this experience.
T Diedericks
Tourleader
