NSW GPS – Thriller at Hunters Hill

The GPS started its second round and there were some cracking games.

Scots v Joeys

Scots had beaten Newington 101-0 two weeks ago and last week Newington beat Joeys.

It was going to be a blood bath when Scots arrived at Hunters Hill, right?

First half

Joeys kicked a penalty goal early then they dropped the ball from the restart . 9 Theo Strang orchestrated a move that ended with 5 Ryan McCauley bursting over the line for Scots.

Another penalty goal to Joeys’ flyhalf Connor O’Shea, this time from 40 metres out, made the score 7-6 Scots after twelve minutes.

Joeys [SJC] resisted a Scots visit near their goal line but when they got a scrum feed in their own 22 Scots pushed them off the ball. Strang hared off and hooker Dylan Woods scored for Scots after running through a defence that wasn’t ready.

It was too easy: Scots were ahead 14-6 at 19 minutes and SJC were setting up their tries.

Scots weren’t perfect but they knew how to pounce on errors and they were doing things faster and were more spontaneous; relentless also.  They looked well-coached and were clearly coachable.

After a period of even play Joeys lost the ball at a lineout and 3 Jakob Sedgman had a fine run. After a well-placed kick through 14. Max Hendrie scored out wide. 10 Dan England kicked a cracking conversion (his third) from touch to make the score 21-6 Scots with six minutes left in the half.

Just when SJC looked down and out they got a lineout near the Scot’s 22. 10 Connor O’Shea did a run-around move which fooled defenders and when he drew the fullback he passed to 15. Thomas Wright, who scored.

The conversion missed and to make matters worse a bad pass after receiving the restart kick was picked up by 1 Toby Rudolf of Scots for the softest of tries near the posts.

That was halftime and Scots led 28-11.

Scots had scored four tries: two following Joeys’ errors after restarts, one after they were pushed off the ball in a scrum, and another after they fluffed a lineout.

Sure, Scots were good enough to capitalise, but set plays were killing the home team.

Second half

Joeys got down into the Scots’ 22 but Scots kept killing the ball and 8. Charlie Smith got a card for frequent team infringements.

At last Joeys got a set piece to work and the ball was spun wide for winger Tim Clements to score in the corner. O’Shea converted with a fine kick and at 28-18 (Scots), Joeys were only ten points behind, eight minutes into the half.

After the break Joeys were playing their best rugby and looked a different team. They were playing out of their skins.

O’Shea kicked the ball for a penalty goal and it looked like a wounded duck, but it flew between the sticks for a 28-21 scoreline to Scots with sixteen minutes left.

But two minutes later the comeback faltered. After SJC lost a lineout Scots moved the ball up the field on the right then moved it back to the middle and the excellent Smith aimed himself at a gap and scored under the posts.

At 35-21 to Scots and twelve minutes to go it looked a lost cause for the home team. But then it was Scots’ turn to turn the ball over from a restart and O’Shea went over after the ball was moved wide. The kick missed and it was 35-26 to Scots with eleven minutes left.

The crowd was getting excited.

Scots threatened and nearly scored but Joeys piggy-backed on penalties down to the Scot’s 22 and Wright did his trademark left-foot step and—try.

It was converted and SJC were within two points—35-33 to Scots. Bloody hell !!

There was still time left and Joeys got a scrum after the restart—but wouldn’t you know it: they lost the ball when it came out.

Game over. Final score: Scots 35 – Joeys 33.

The teams

Joeys were their own worst enemies because of their flawed set plays. Outside of them they played their best game of the season and there was no comparison with their tepid performance in the opening game of the year at Bellevue Hill. They outscored Scots 22-7 in the second half and made them look ordinary.

But it was not enough.

Scots looked impressive in the first half and ran the ball from everywhere. They look a bit like the Waratahs in their willingness to let the ball sing.

They kicked the ball more in the second half and lost their edge. Mind you—it didn’t help that two of their stars: Angus Crichton and Guy Porter did not play.

The Players

Joeys
3. Connor O’Shea (10) – was at the top of his game and was the ringmaster; a masterful performance.
2. Thomas Leaver (6) – showed skill and mongrel and was never far from the action.
1. Nicholas Duffy (9) – needed to run more to stop the drift but moved the ball quickly.

Scots
3. Theo Strang (9) – live-wire scrummie and liked to challenge defences that weren’t set.
2. Charlie Smith (8) – ideal backrower: did everything at 100 miles per hour but liked contact too.
1. Toby Rudolf (1) – had some dominant runs in the first half and was as the enforcer.

The wrap up

This was a superb game of rugby and Joeys should be proud of how they came back in the second half. That said, now they have only won two games out of six.

Scots are still unbeaten but their second half performance showed that they are beatable by teams that get the basics right.

The scoring

Scots 35 (R. McCauley, D. Woods, M. Hendrie, T. Rudolf, C. Smith tries; D. England 5 cons) def. Joeys 33 (T. Wright 2, T. Clements tries; C. O’Shea try, 3 pens, 2 cons)

Other results

(Thanks to the new Joeys’ scoreboard)

2nd XV — Joeys 20 – Scots 17

3rd XV — Joeys 19 – St. Augustines 2nd XV 12

4th XV — Joeys 22 – Shore 14

6th XV — Joeys 22 – Scots 4th XV 12

16 As — Joeys 17 – Scots 5

15 As — Joeys 12 – Scots 5

More photos in gallery below – all photos by Lee Grant

See below in “Discussion” for video highlights

See next page for report on Kings v Riverview