On a cold, overcast Saturday that threatened rain, the second-last team on the ladder, Kings, had the unenviable task of visiting undefeated Newington, and winless Shore would be at Riverview, still smarting from a late loss last week.
But the main interest was at Bellevue Hill where Scots and Joeys would battle it out for the outside chance of winning the competition should future results go their way.
Scots v Joeys
by “Crackerjack”
Bellevue Hill’s biggest crowd of the season, ramparts bolstered and rollicking with Old Boy re-unions, bagpipes and drums, and with a sea of cerise and blue filling the outer side, witnessed what Bruce McAvaney, sports broadcasting doyen, would describe as “something speshhhal”.
Joeys were missing their Australian Schools reps Tom Wright and Tom Horton, and also NSW rep Blaise Barnes, but the others did their school proud.
First half
Joeys got out of the blocks quickly when left wing, Ben Williams, outpointed the Scots “pod” defenders with a clever kick and a favourable bounce, then fed the ball to flyhalf support Nick Wilkinson (10) who scored out wide. Will Wennerbom (9) nailed a tough conversion from touch.
Joeys had their tails up and their strong and straight-ahead mid-field running from the loosies, especially Dom McGrath (6), was effective. He and his breakaway partner Lachlan Simpson (7) helped Joeys convert their mid-field pressure into more points when fullback Tim Clements (15) grabbed the next piece of meat. After the conversion Joeys led 14-0.
Scots were not yet “concerned” but this changed when Joeys’ Eddy King (13), riding the cerise and blue opening tide, scythed his way down the right flank to score in the corner. After 15 minutes, Joeys deserved their 19-0 lead.
The Scots alarm bells were a’ringing, and up stepped skipper Theo Strang (9), who from a quick penalty tap near the line, darted in next to the uprights. Nic Shannon (15) slotted an easy conversion and Scots were finally on the board and getting their mojo back.
Scots left-wing Jake Prindiville (11) worked upfield with one of Scots twin-towers Charlie Crawford (4), fed inside to the tireless Dan England (12) who waltzed over untouched. With just eight minutes remaining until oranges the Joe Boys’ lead was cut to a single piece of meat.
Half-time score: Joeys 19 – Scots 14.
Second half
Scots’ cause was aided in the second stanza by the stiff southerly enjoyed by Joeys through the first half.
Scots’ Charlie Smith (7) was like a sideshow alley game of whack-a-mole: he was popping up everywhere.
Joeys’ Eddy King (13), defused an ominous Scots attacking raid when he intercepted a looping cut-out pass inside his own 22, and scarpered 60 metres upfield, only to be denied by superb cover-defense by Dan England (12), saving five points for sure.
But King had them playing at the right end of the field and soon after, toiling Will Anderson (2), so often Joeys man on the spot, popped up and grabbed . Joeys looked to have settled at 26-14, five minutes after the break.
Again, Scots took the scoreboard hit in their collective stride. The message appeared “We can do this. Stick to the basics. Stick to our structure.”
A face ball from flyhalf Dylan McLachlan (10), had “Battleship” Prindiville (11) fighting off defenders to score deep in his favourite left corner. The conversion from touch missed; so Joeys were ahead by a single meat pie. Score: 26-19 Joeys, ten minutes after the break.
Scots were ascending, and particularly so in the forwards’ battle. After some scrum dominance near the Joeys’ goal line the home team got a scrum penalty, and the Scots apex predators smelled Joe Boy blood in the water.
After sustained Scots pressure on the Joeys white stripe, the ball was shot wide to Dan England (12) who scored. Another difficult conversion fell short, and Joeys held a slender lead, 26-24 with 14 minutes left in the game. Fingernails all around the ground were being chewed down.
A defensive lapse by Joeys right in front served up a gift offside penalty to Scots. Nic Shannon (15) calmly lobbed over the first penalty goal the Scots Ones had attempted in the last three years. Scots now led for the first time in the match, 27-26. Just eight minutes remaining.
A streaker peeling out of the Kirkland House corner then demonstrated exactly how chilly the wind really was. Failing to even make the half-way line (thank goodness!), he ran from the arena, shrunken but untouched.
Meantime, and unrelated, Joeys were awarded a penalty bang in front and Wennerbom slotted it to regain the lead for Joeys, 29-27. Atmospherics were amped up another notch.
Five minutes left and Scots tireless hooker Woods (2) was yellow-carded. Scots responded, and secured the pill, keeping it in tight and patient through the remaining piggies. They ground out pick ‘n drive phases as they moved inexorably towards the Joe Boys’ line.
The ball was finally popped into the hands of the one “most likely”, Ryan McCauley (5), who did his Inspector Gadget impression when he reached out long and clean, to plonk down what would become the match-winning try. Nic Shannon (15) rode the conversion kick home and the hosts were up 34-29, but still with two minutes of nail biting and sphincter puckering to go.
After intense and sustained Joeys’ ball retention through umpteen phases in the Scots’ 22, a final ruck ‘n maul turnover and a kick out by Scots finished proceedings.
Final score: Scots 34 – Joeys 29
Everyone on-field and off it, were spent, and the Scots traditional post-game rendition of “Auld Lang Syne” was sung with extra gusto, all acutely aware just how close this one had been.
The players
Scots:
3pts – Max Girdler (6). Did all the hard stuff. A beast in the middle. Against top-shelf forwards, constantly asking critical questions of Joeys’ defensive line. Sucked the marrow from the Joe Boys’ bones.
2pts – Dan England (12) and James Hawkins (13). Impossible to split, but were a menace to Joeys throughout, both offensively and defensively.
1pt – Charlie Smith (7). Quite simply, ubiquitous. (Ubiquitous.”existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time” – Dictionary online)
Joeys:
3pts – Dom McGrath (6). Extraordinary work-ethic. Like “Uber”, he just shows up.
2pts – Eddy King (13). Awesome mid-field defence, and lethal when given room to move. Had leg-speed to spare in the open.
1pt – Ben Williams (11). Dangerous every time he touched the ball.
Wrap-up
A desperately close one at Bellevue Hill that keeps the home side in contention to take or to share the chocolates in the 2015 Premiership race. A game of momentum in distinct sections, with Joeys sprinting out of the blocks early, but Scots not dropping their heads nor their bundle, and finally prevailing deep into the second half.
A delight of Schoolboy Rugby for the big crowd on hand to witness, and especially so for the lads in the bleachers and the Old Boys up on the Scots balcony. And almost perversely, after such a great spectacle, the Scots lads will be urging on Joeys next week, who are playing at home against ladder-leaders Newington.
Scoring
Scots 34 (D. England 2, T. Strang, J. Prindiville, R. McCauley tries; N. Shannon 3 cons, pen) def. Joeys 29 (N. Wilkinson, T. Clements, E. King, W. Anderson tries; Wennerbom 3 cons, pen.)
Other scores:
2nd XV: Joeys 29 def. Scots 14
16A’s: Joeys 22 def. Scots 7
42 minute Video of Scots v Joeys – courtesy of “sidesteppa”
Photos of Scots v Joeys by “Lee Grant”
Click on Page 2 below for a report on Riverview v Shore by “Byron Williamson”
