Future is bright for St Joseph’s College

The under-18s team, missing 16 players through injury, were defeated 50-10 in the quarter-finals of London & South East A but, under new director of rugby, Peter Engledow, have a lot going for them.

South African, Engledow, 40, took up his position in June, having enjoyed a five-year spell as coach of Bishops’ Stortford.

During last season’s campaign, Engledow led Stortford to a club-record 16-game winning streak which saw the team eventually finish an impressive fourth in National Three London SE.

Director of sport, Mark Patterson, lauded Engledow’s influence, since arriving at the college.

“Peter’s work has been really, really good from my perspective,” said former Irish international cricketer Patterson, who admitted the 2012/13 season was a re-building season.

“From my point-of-view, we are three or four months ahead of where I thought we would be at this stage.

“We had a difficult pre-season in terms of performances and results but by the time the St Jo’s festival came round, we were disappointed when we did not make the final.

“This is my ninth year at the college and the rugby section is probably in the best state it has ever been during my time here.”

The under-15s played in the quarter-finals of London SE B yesterday, against New Hall School from Essex, losing narrowly, 25-17.