Scots 34 — Joeys 31
by “LeeGrant”
Scots came to Hunters Hill intent on keeping their unbeaten run intact but Joeys were determined to defend their patch and have a win against the odds.
They nearly did.
The scoring
It looked like it was going to be a long day for Joeys when after two minutes 11. Matt Crafts hared up the left touchline, apparently covered, but he burnt the defenders and scored. Too easy. I thought that Joeys had better not let him have another chance like that — he was bloody fast – but he did it again later: twice, in half an hour.
But not too long after that first shock Joeys hammered the Scots line for minutes; they were held up and also got a penalty right in front. Skipper Matt Sandell took the option of a scrum as he probably thought that penalty kicks were not going to win this particular game. How right he was.
It was the correct call: 7. Nic Pennisi ran through traffic and went over, handy, and Joeys were ahead 7-5 at ten minutes.
Almost from the kick-off 12. Will McDonnell launched an attack for Joeys and after a breakdown 15. Brodie Bailey took the ball up. When he was tackled, hooker Tierney Glasson got the pill and Sandell pushed him over the line, latching on. Deegan converted from near touch and Joeys lead 14-5 at 13 minutes.
But four minutes later Scots found Joeys short again out wide on their right, and Crafts was in again, under the posts: 14-12 Joeys. Too easy again.
Then came a moment of brilliance from Joeys 6. Josh Canturi when he was slipped a short pass from a ruck just inside the Scots’ 22. He beat the pillar – and also two Australian Schoolboys players when he swerved inside fullback Andrew Kellaway and scored under the posts in the tackle of 9. Mitchell Short. After 22 minutes Joeys led 21-12 .
Then Scots had a dominant period of play. LHP Isilei Fa went over, but Kellaway missed the conversion from right in front. Then Crafts found Joeys short again and got his third pie near half-time. Scots took the lead 24-21.
But in the last move of the half it was Joeys’ turn to find Scots short of defenders on the left and 11. Luke Ryan scored after a long run to get Joeys ahead 26-24 at oranges.
The second half was not so busy. There were long periods of attrition and there was a lot of play in the middle of the field.
Joeys had chances early but at eleven minutes Scots were too good after a scrum move not far out (after Crafts had been held up for a change) and 14. Christian Yassmin scored. No conversion: Scots 29-26.
There were several promising moves from both sides. Scots got close but lost a lineout near the Joeys line; then Joeys were held up at the other end and another time kicked through too long and Kellaway was able to touch down for a 22 restart.
But eventually Joeys got a scrum in the Scots 22; the ball was dished out to the right and a switch to the left found Scots short and Bailey scored. It was Deegan’s turn to miss an easy conversion but Joeys led 31-29 with only six minutes to go.
But they could not control the restart kick and Scots got a sniff near the Joeys line.
Then came a season-defining moment for both sides. Joeys forced a scrum near their own corner post. Both front rows were standing up after ‘set’ and the ball was at the back of the scrum for Joeys. As their 9. Tevita Makasini was about to pick up the pill, and both front rows still standing up, the Scots scrum pushed Joeys off the ball and when 8. Olly Kamp got it he scored in the corner.
The score was Scots 34-31; there was still time for a couple of plays after the restart and although Joeys got the ball back in the Scots half they didn’t look like scoring again.
What a great game of rugby: maybe there were too many tries for the purists (six tries to five) but who cares?
The teams
Joeys’ fans may argue about a contentious scrum lost at the end of the game but they were their own worst enemies. They were found short of defenders on their right-hand side three times in the first half and three Scots tries were scored. That was the difference in the end
They gave themselves several chances against an undefeated team and often bossed them in the forwards but it wasn’t enough and they let Scots came back into their red zone at the end.
Scots played aggressively but got some cards for their troubles and they lost their flyhalf to injury. They did well to overcome those things, but they still missed tackles when the Joe boys raided. They also fluffed several promising moves by passing behind intended ball runners, especially in the second half.
The players
Joeys — 3. Will McDonnell, 2. Tevita Makasini, 3. Josh Canturi
12. McDonnell has been in prime form since the GPS re-commenced after the break; 9. Makasini added value to his play by sniping more and 6. Canturi, the scorer of a terrific individual try, gets the nod as representing the backrow which had a fine match. Honourable mention to lock Koim Wingti.
Scots — 3. Matt Crafts (MOTM), 2. Ben Starkey, 3. Hamish Dunbar
11. Crafts scored three tries whereas another winger might have been able to score just one or two. Starkey had some trouble defending against the Joeys midfield but he had a strong second half and attracted a lot of tacklers who should have been defending holes. 7. Dunbar , the skipper, was all over the place. Honorable mention to Andrew Kellaway who was like a freak of nature whenever he got a clear run, and was hard to put to ground when stopped.
The wrap-up
Scots were not perfect: they were nearly beaten and maybe should have been, but winners are grinners and they carry on undefeated.
The result was a bitter blow to Joeys who had to beat Scots to have an outside chance to win the comp with the help of others. Now they look like contenders for the bronze, as are Riverview. But with five rounds to go, who knows?
Scoring
Scots — 34
Tries: Matt Crafts (3), Iselili Fa, Christian Yassmin, Olly Kamp
Conversions: Andrew Kellaway, Callum Styles
Joeys — 31
Tries: Nic Pennisi, Tierney Glasson, Josh Canturi, Luke Ryan, Brodie Bailey
Conversions: Andrew Deegan (3)
Referee: Mr Steve Hardy
Photos and informal reports on Kings v View – and other GPS competitions to follow
