Absolutely positively back

Last updated 23:17 22/09/2008

ANDREW GORRIE/The Dominion Post

BATTLER: St Pat's Silverstream's Antony Bennett's playing days were cut short in 2006 when he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, inset, but he's back doing what he loves _ packing down in the scrum as a loose forward.

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Cancer threatened to sideline the rugby career of Antony Bennett two years ago, but the St Patrick's Silverstream pupil never once thought about hanging up his boots.

Bennett, 17, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in June 2006 after discovering a lump in his neck. The news came just days after he had been accepted into a Wellington under-16 development programme.

Bennett was forced to swap regular training runs for chemotherapy sessions.

"I was really stressed and distraught. I still went along to watch the boys play and we ended up making the final that year against the Wellington College under-15s. It was heartbreaking not to be able to play in that game," he said.

But encouragement from family and friends, and an overwhelming desire to get back on the field, spurred Bennett. "I kept thinking positive. I never had a negative thought. I kept saying, `I'm going to get through this. I'm going to get back out on the park. I'm going to beat it'."

Bennett's fighting spirit was rewarded in December 2006 with one of the greatest Christmas presents of all - a clean bill of health.

As a result, the year 13 pupil is back doing what he loves: packing down in the St Pat's scrum as an 87-kilogram loose forward.

He has enjoyed plenty of highlights this year, including being the second XV's most prolific forward try-scorer (3), a stint as captain, and a handful of starting games for the St Pat's first XV.

"The captaincy was good. It gave me an edge and inspired me to play harder," he said.

Bennett attributes his good form to the fresh outlook on life his cancer experience has given him.

"I learnt not to take anything for granted because it can all go straight away. Hopefully I can push on towards a Wellington rep team. Under-18s would be good."

Bennett's second XV side has enjoyed its most successful season ever, winning 15 of 18 games, topping the premier two grade and capturing the Isburg Challenge Cup.

Coach Nick Tait said Bennett has been an integral part of his team's success. "He played some outstanding rugby. For anyone to come back from a disease like that into competitive sport, you've got to be pretty strong, so I think it's a fantastic achievement.

"From what I hear, he was a very sick boy and it was touch and go. Someone mentioned he kept growing during the treatment, which is supposed to be detrimental to growth. He certainly is a solid boy."

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Tait said Bennett had the goods to go further in his rugby career.

"He plays a very well-structured game, he involves himself in the team plan and plays to it well. He's very good defensively, runs very good lines, and he's pretty aggressive on the tackle. He hasn't made any representative teams yet, but you just never know. If he keeps developing and keeps working on it, then anything's possible."

Tait said Antony's positive attitude toward life was reflected in the way he conducted himself on the field.

"He never misses training, he's always early to games and he's always well presented, so he hardly misses a beat there," he said.

"But, at the same time, he likes to be one of the larrikins, and he enjoys the company of the other guys in the team.

"He's a real character all right."

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