Day 3 was supposed to be Moving Day for the Division I teams. Victoria wanted to move into the winners circle after a skinny loss to the Juniors on Day 1 and almost toppling the Reds, one of the tournament favourites, on Day 2. 

It was the same for other teams on zero wins: NSW Country had to step up, and WA who had had a heart-breaker against the Whites on Day 1, had to move on. One of them would: they were playing each other.

The Sydney Juniors wanted to move into the final on Friday and, having bonus points and one win, had only to beat Qld Red to do so. Likewise, undefeated Qld White could progress to get the bikkies if they beat NSW Schools.

Who would make the move on a stinking hot day at Riverview.?

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Victoria v Brumbies – by “Lee Grant”

The Brumbies shocked Victoria by running in two tries in 7 minutes. Even without their injured hooker and skipper, Suita Tai, the ACT lads were irrepressible at the start of the game. The Day 2 Eureka Stockade defence of the Victorians against Qld Red had holes.

What happened? Flanker Paragali had made a long break after 5 minutes and soon scrummie Dough had got the ball through hands for the opening try. Not long after the Vics populated a ruck with too many defenders and the raiding ACT backs had too much grass in front of them and not enough tacklers. Try to fullback Hickson.

Centre Evans chipped the conversion over – really chipped it. Whilst the Victorians were huddled under the posts telling each other how crap their defence was, Evans placed the tee 7 metres out in front. It might have been 6.

14-0 Brumbies at 7 minutes. This would be a walkover, but not so fast: after a good Vic scrum 6 minutes later Vic THP Fiu scored – and then a penalty made it 14-8 . Game on !!

Later Vic winger Blake made a break and dished the ball out. Try Victoria !! Not it wasn’t: forward pass. Damn close that. Half time 14-8 Brumbies.

The Brumbies settled with a penalty and a try to no. 8 Leber after a pick and go to make the score 21-8.The Vics had more possession and good real estate after oranges but could not take their chances. Poor ball work did not help. Near the end lock O’Meagher got a try on the blindside after a lot of Vic pressure but it was too late.

Players to watch: Brumbies 9 Douch was electric from a standing start and 14 Laoifi of the Vics, playing fullback, showed again what a good complete footie player he is.

Brumbies – 21 – [Tries: M. Douch, J. Hickson, B. Leber. Conversions: T. Evans (3).]

Victoria – 13 – [ Tries: L. Fiu, D. O’Meagher. Penalty: T. Blake.]

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The rest of Day 3 – by “George Smith”

On a much anticipated day with temperatures nudging 30deg and the climax of the preliminary rounds on offer the players put on performances many will not forget for sometime.

In the morning NSW Country took on Western Australia on the main oval while Indigenous played Tasmania on the back oval.

Then followed the main match; Sydney v Queensland Red in what proved to be a blockbuster followed by NSW Schools accounting for Queensland White.

NSW Country v Western Australia

Both sets of Piggies showed the Princesses how to play in the scorching heat. They kept it tight, rarely dropped a ball and rammed each other and still kept running till the end. Conversely, the Princesses in both teams were loathe to pass to each other and when they did invariably dropped the ball with their eyes on the opposition

The game sea-sawed with scoring at both ends of the paddock. Firstly, WA’s No2 Terry Berryman picked the ball from the ruck and dived across the line to score. Country immediately responded with the tearaway locks flowing of the No9, Tommy Sawden who scampered over the line only to be denied by the officials. Drinks were called at ¼ time with no relief from the heat in sight.

Country’s No20, Marcus Hundt scored soon after resumption following what looked painstakingly slow hands to the sideline but an overlap was there. Score 5-5. Soon afterwards Country’s Callum Styles (No10) kicked behind the fast advancing WA backs only for the Marcus Hundt to misjudge the tackle and bounce off the shoulders of a WA defender 3m from the goal line. The clearing kick took play back to halfway for another break. Half time 5-5.

In the second half the Piggies toiled hard without giving any quarter to their opposition. The Princesses continued to drop the ball when any attacking move was happening and the score remained locked for a while until Ingram of WA kicked a penalty for them to lead 8-5.

Near the end Country missed a penalty to tie up the match but from the WA 22 metre drop out Country attacked through hands, but were forced out near the corner. Game over? No; WA knocked on at the lineout and Lapana Vitale (#7) for Country to take the lead for the first time in the match, 10-8. From the sideline Styles kicked a magnificent conversion to make the final score 12-8. It was Country’s first win of the tournament and the lads were happy..

NSW Country – 12 – [Tries: L. Vitale, Marcus Hundt. Conversion: C. Styles.]

Western Australia – 8 – [Try 2: Perryman. Penalty: T. Ingram.]

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Sydney Juniors v Queensland Reds

In a game that resembled an old fashioned grand final with both teams trying to bash, crash and blast their opposites off the paddock the ref decided to calm things down. After going to his pocket 3 times for high tackles (Qld 2) and not releasing the player (NSW 1) both teams didn’t ease off.

Sydney were determined to play in the finals the next day but to do so had to account for the top team from Queensland. Their determination and execution was ‘on song’. Lineouts were copy book, passes were clean and running was straight resulting in 2 unanswered tries. The teams gratefully jogged to their drink stations with the half time score 16-0 Sydney.

In the second half Queensland were running with the breeze and the sun behind them. After 10 minutes had elapsed and still no further score Coach Rivers brought on his reserves that coincided with a turning point in the game. A lineout was lost for a crooked throw and some luck to Queensland in another lineout saw the momentum switch markedly. Queensland scored 2 tries in 10minutes and the score was now 16-16.

Rivers brought back his starting 15 and Sydney worked their way back up-field to score out wide. The conversion hit the upright from Dave Smerdon and Queensland responded magnificently with a pie. With 3 minutes to go the teams were locked at 21 apiece. Sydney were attacking and refused to take the points in front but rather a quick tap by Nic Clancy that resulted in nothing and the crowd was yelling.

Another penalty to Sydney further out and this time elected to get the points but the kick was pulled left. Scores were still 21-21 with a minute left. Play was getting to a standstill with neither team allowing a break. With seconds remaining Queensland now had a penalty 40m out and in front with the wind behind them. Joe Simpkins (No10) guided the ball high and straight and Queensland emerged victors 24-21 with both teams at a standstill.

Queensland Red – 24 – [Tries: R. Green, M. Jones, H. Devine. Conversions: M. Mason (3). Penalty: Mason.]

Sydney Juniors – 21 – [Tries: G. Lehmann, L. Burland. Conversion: D. Smerdon. Penalties: Burland (3).]

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NSW Schools v Queensland White

The last game of the day was an anti-climax after the previous blockbuster. Schools played to their high standard and used the wind and sun to advantage in the first half. James Kane (No15) used his huge left boot to continually turn Queensland Whites behind. But the Whites never gave up.

Running into the sun and the wind really had an affect today. The sun was piercing and only very good footy or enterprising endeavor allowed you to get to your goal line. Which is what the Whites did. They kept coming back at Schools and never allowed them to settle into a dominant pattern.

Qld Whites went into the break 10-5 ahead and the crowd was wondering if another upset was on the cards. But Schools found their composure after the break. The piggies gained dominance at the breakdown which allowed the fancy Princesses time and space to work their magic. Hutchinson (no13) again showed he had the uncanny ability to be in the right place and scored another pie to his huge tally this tournament. Billy Freeman (No11) also scored a well deserved pie and Schools amassed a final score line without any real effort to secure a finals berth tomorrow with a winning 32-17 score line.

NSW Schools – 32 – [Tries: H. Summerhayes, J. Walker, W. Freeman, H. Hutchinson, A. Crichton. Conversions:J. Kane (2). Penalty: Kane.]

Queensland White – 17 – [Tries: I. Perese, G. Luka. Conversions: M. Marsden (2). Penalty: E. Pilz.]

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Division II

National Indigenous -107 – [Tries: S. Pierce (4), M. Doolan (3), C. Watson (2), D. Carriage (2), L. Snowball, F. Muhamed, J. Widders-Leece, J. Long, B. Milgate, I. Huet. Conversions: Doolan (8), Pierce, Long, T. Clarke.]

Tasmania – 3 – [Penalty: N. Singh.]

 

South Australia – 22 – [Tries: J. Hangood, B. Edmonds, E. Robbins. Conversions: M. Marshall (2).]

Northern Territory – 10 – [R. Butterworth, J. Lim.]

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[one_half last=”no”]

Division I – Final Day

9am – 7th/8th – Western Australia v Victoria – Oval 1

10am – 3rd/4thh – Queensland White v Brumbies – Oval 2

11.20am – 5th/6th – NSW Country v Sydney Juniors – Oval 2

11.40am – 1st/2nd- NSW Schools – Queensland Red – Oval 1 [/one_half]

[one_half last=”yes”]

Division II

8.45am – Northern Territory v Tasmania – Oval 2

10.20 – South Australia v National Indigenous – Oval 1

[Don’t miss this game – you will see some attacking rugby.][/one_half]

 

This old blog is being used for WordPress exercises

 

 

 

The GPS First XV competition started its third round yesterday with King’s and Riverview unbeaten. and Joeys and Scots with one win, but not wanting to fall further behind the leaders.  Meantime Newington and Shore were desperate for their first competition win of the season.

The away team had won five of the six matches matches in the first two rounds—would that prevail for Round 3?

Scots v Newington

  by “Crackerjack”

 

With Season silverware aspirations already on the line, Scots hosted Newington on a fine dry track at Bellevue Hill.

First half

It was a tense, physical opening, both teams stress-testing relative strengths and perceived weaknesses.

An early Scots’ penalty goal was nullified when New turned the ball over with strong mid-field defence inside Scots’ half, and nippy James Haldane (9) squirted in to open New’s account. The conversion missed as did the other attempts by New on the day. Newington 5-3.

In his run-on debut for Scots 1sts, right-wing Tom Yassmin made some destructive charges, thwarted by excellent Newington defence at the back, but from those early bursts, Scots set up base-camp in the visitors’ quarter.

The Scots’ scrum held its own in the set pieces against a heavy Newington pack, and the line-out worked well with quick-time, accurate throwing from hooker Charlie Jeavons-Fellows, keeping the Newington lads off balance.

Scots exerted pressure from early possession, but New’s defences held and Scots couldn’t convert the advantage into points.

With ten minutes remaining, New broke the shackles when flyhalf James Turner slipped through the D-line. From an attacking scrum the ball went out through hands to classy fullback Bailey Simonsson, who crashed over. Newington 10-3.

Strong running from inside centre Ryan O’Bierne earned Scots an attacking line-out, and Jeavons-Fellows set up a Scots’ rolling-maul, bound for the stripe. A tumbleweed of Newington bodies at the line fell foul of the referee, who awarded Scots a penalty try for New collapsing and the scores were locked,10-all.

Close to half-time, New opted for attacking line-outs, deep into Scots’ corners. With a deft pirouette close to the line, Simonsson, Newington’s best, crashed in for his second piece of meat.

Half-time score: Newington 15 – Scots 10

Second half

New’s highlight reel was filled with barn-storming charges from Simonsson (15), Tyrone Taukamo (12) and THP Opeti Helu (3), but it was Scots who dug out first points after the break when Yassmin (14) burrowed over from patient recycling work by the Scots’ Piggies. Scots 17-15.

The ebb and flow was now well established, and New were next to trouble the scorers with Hamish Duvall (13) finger-tipping a touchdown inside the corner post. New 20-17.

But Scots kept ball in hand more than they did the week before, and it asked big questions of New’s defence which they couldn’t answer. A five-minute three-try spree broke the game open for the lads in Gold.

In the first, a Brian Smith set-play involving most Scots’ backs, enabled Winston Yunupingu (11) to break New’s defence and hearts, feeding Archie Gavin (13) to score. Scots 24-20.

For the second, a charged-down clearing kick from flyhalf Nic Shannon (10), was recovered, chipped ahead, re-gathered, and fed to Yassmin (14) to link with ever-present Hugh Green (7) who crashed over. Conversion successful. Scots 31-20.

The third followed another clean-as-a-whistle Jeavons-Fellows ‘poach’ from a mid-field ruck which sent O’Bierne hoofing upfield to link back inside with trailing tall timber Sam Ridley (5) to add the day’s final score.

In a thrice, Scots had gapped the young men in Black & White, and even with ten minutes remaining, they wouldn’t recover.

Full-time score: Scots 36 – Newington 20

The Players

Scots

3pts: Charlie Jeavons-Fellows (2) – played “enormous” and led his team all day; superb tackler and extra loosie in attack

2pts: Darcy Breen (3) – locked down Scots’ scrum against a big New front-row; stood up in defence in the outside channel

1pt: Hugh Green (7) – an Eveready Bunny; ubiquitous and pesky-as around the rucks

Newington

3pts: Bailey Simonsson (15) – looked dangerous each time he touched the ball; a live-wire across the backline

2pts: Tom Serhon (6) – his battle with the Scots back-rowers was a game highlight

1pt: James Turner (10) – mixed a strong running game with unleashing his outside backs.

The wrap-up

Scots built confidence keeping the ball in hand in attack, but their win was built on a solid foundation of stout defence against New’s big block-busting ball runners.

Newington – Their record may be 0-3 but they shape as a dangerous Premiership “spoiler” to the tournament front runners.

Scoring

Scots 36 (Yassim, Gavin, Green, Ridley tries; penalty try; N.Shannon 4 cons, pen) def. Newington 20 (Simonsson 2, Haldane, Duvall tries)

 

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Kings v Joeys

  by “OAUI”

 

What can be said about the Cerise faithful. Not only is the school playing the lone hand in their support of GPS rugby, with bus-loads of students arriving throughout the afternoon to support their teams but huge number of Joey parents also there to support of the school rugby program is magnificent.

The 2nd XV game, while a bit dour, nonetheless had both sides well-committed – and there were some glimpses of some good rugby in a game where Joeys came home with a wet sail to win 16-10. Of note Kings Jack Mann was taken straight from the field to hospital with a dislocated shoulder. Possibly another season-ending injury which very sad for a lad chasing his 1sts rugby dream.

A high quality, evenly-matched thirds fixture between Kings and a TAS side, had Armidale winning a squeaker 5-3.
There is no other day in any schools rugby calendar than when SJC come to play. The largest crowd for many a year greeted the two sides running out onto the White Oval. There were changes to both sides from last week, notably those forced by the injuries of Joeys.

Missing were flanker Feltis, who sustained a bad injury against Shore and LHP Holley, whose experience and lineout throwing would be missed. Surprisingly Crotti was not promoted from the Joeys’ Twos after his strong showing subbing in Firsts against Shore.

First half

The first ten minutes had both teams prod each other seeking the advantage and Kings getting a bit of a roll on with 8 Peitsch making some yards into Joeys’ territory before the ball came loose. Calls for a knock on from Joeys supporters but very experienced referee thought otherwise.

In the next ruck the ball shot out sideways and 13 Rhys Millar hared up touch with it before dishing inside to Nick Brown for the score out wide.

After two penalties from 9 Kyle Brown, King’s were ahead 11-0 at about 20 minutes.

But Joeys’ intensity didn’t drop and their outside backs were creating space and opportunities. From their first real occupation in the King’s 22, Joeys’ winger Day went over out wide. King’s 11 – Joeys 5.

Near the half-hour mark Day kicked a penalty for the visitors as Joeys were making up for a slow start.

Half-time score: King’s 11 – Joeys 8.

First half

Kyle Brown slotted two penalty goals after the break produced by bad discipline by Joeys though caused by the forward pressure of King’s.

But 15 minutes into the half after Joeys repelled King’s repeatedly at one end, 6 Ashurst took the ball up with a long run for Joeys and scrummie Dowling scampered from the ruck 22 metres out and rounded under the posts with no hands laid on him.

Kings 17-15 – it was game on !!

It was an arm wrestle in the fourth quarter of the game with King’s usually on top but Joeys defending to the last gasp.

With about five minutes left and King’s pounding the Joeys’ line King’s hooker Lynch broke the deadlock with a neat left-foot step and dive.

The score was 24-15 with only minutes to go an although Day slotted a penalty for Joeys they couldn’t score the converted try to win.

Final score: King’s 24 – Joeys 18

The Players

The Joeys forwards fought to the last minute to the last man but the Kings forwards were physically stronger and it bore results.

Kings

3 points – Hooker James Lynch – a non-stop perfomance and taking his opportunity to clinch the game.
2 points – Lock Nick Brown – the dominant forward in the dominant pack.
1 point – no8 Dylan Pietsch – a smooth runner and ball player though better in the loose than the tight.

Joeys
3 points – 13 Yirrbi Jaffer- Williams – like a swan a amongst the ducks in the backline.
2 points – winger Lachlan Day – not a perfect game and some kicks from hand were wayward, but was a danger man
1 point – 9 Dylan Dowling – another good passing game and sniped for a score; something he should try more.

First half

King’s 24 ( N. Brown, K. Lynch tries; K. Brown 4 pens, con) def. Joeys 18 (L. Day, D. Dowling tries; L. Day 2 pens, con)

 

Photos of Kings v Joeys by “Lee Grant”

 

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Third XV competition

by “Huly”

 

Round 2 of the 3rd’s Competition saw another week of entertaining rugby and surprising results.

High v Shore – Shore ran riot at McKay Oval for the first game of their season. High were slow off the mark, with both Shore wingers breaking through soft tackles to score in their respective corners. High responded positively however, with captain Jacob Katafono crashing over the line in the right hand corner off the back of a well constructed passage of play.

In the second half, both Shore wingers again showed immense strength and speed to score tries with limited space. But a gusty High side finished the game strongly, with the #14 blitzing through the Shore defence untouched off a deft scrum move to score under the sticks.

Final Score: 36-12

Riverview v Grammar – Grammar looked to bounce back from a devastating loss to TAS with a clinical display against Riverview. Tries went to Sheldon (2), Smith and Mallett off the back of an incisive attacking performance. Riverview’s only try came at the hands of their replacement hooker, who beat multiple Grammar defenders over 30m to score the final try of the game.

Final Score: Shore 28-5

Scots v Joeys – Determined after a disappointing loss to Kings in the previous round, Scots were able to break Joeys’ undefeated streak, which had lasted over a season. With their forwards getting a solid roll on, Scots were able to keep the scoreboard ticking, holding off a last minute Joeys’ onslaught to score their first win of the season.

Final Score: 22-21

Kings v Armidale – At J.S White Oval, a late try to the #8 Henry Coldham allowed TAS to win a 5-3 squeaker over a courageous King’s side.

 

Coming up – match review of Riverview v Shore