MOUNT House 1st XVs took part in the Caldicott Centenary Rugby Festival, one of numerous events put on to celebrate the centenary of the prep school in Buckinghamshire.
The invitation to test themselves outside the South West circuit was impossible to resist and last weekend Mount House, along with Fettes (Edinburgh), Mowden Hall (Newcastle), St. Mary?s Hall (Blackburn) and Highbury from Durban, South Africa met to enjoy a weekend of rugby.
Matches were limited to 30 minutes and Mount House kicked off the first of their three Saturday fixtures with a game against Scottish opposition from Fettes. In sunshine and on a pitch that resembled a billiard table the threequarters were soon running in tries.
Against Mowden Hall the pack were slow to settle and ruck ball was slow. The final match was against the side from Highbury Prep in Durban. They proved to be too strong and powerful for the Mount House forwards and only a courageous rearguard action kept the inevitable defeat to respectable proportions.
The weather changed considerably by Sunday morning, but Mount House returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 24-5 victory over St Mary?s Hall, Stoneyhurst.
In their final match of a busy two days, Mount House looked tired and failed to find their true form against Caldicott and like all good guests allowed their hosts to triumph by 19-0.
This was a wonderful experience for all concerned and Mount House can feel pleased to know that they can compete on equal terms on the rugby field with any school from any part of the country.