Knox v. Cranbrook
by “Elsfter”
On a cold, sunny day a good crowd built up at Wahroonga for the top of the table clash.
For Cranbrook, victory would confirm they would be sole holders of the premiership. Knox would be seeking revenge for their first round loss.
Cranbrook was the best defensive side in the competition and Knox had the most potent attack. Cranbrook played with clinical efficiency whilst Knox could be inconsistent, but at times spectacular to watch.
The first round game was a classic game of schoolboy Rugby, and this game promised much the same. Unfortunately for the comfort of the spectators, some Higher Being turned the heater off during the latter part of the seconds. And as the afternoon wore on it got cold, very cold.
First half
With the sun in their eyes, Knox kicked off and tore into the Cranbrook side. From the outset Knox played with an intensity that looked to have taken Cranbrook off-guard. With power and speed they worked their way to the Brook 22 and a ball came loose at the breakdown and Van Zyl (6) scooped the ball up and ran 20 metres to surprise everyone and score.
Within a few minutes Knox had scored and took the lead. This partially settled Cranbrook, and they reverted to type. Keep the ball tight and use their powerful ball runners to apply pressure.
The first half settled down, with Cranbrook starting to dominate territory and possession. However Cranbrook looked a little oout-of-sorts. Renton (10) missed his first penalty of the game, which was kickable. With ball in hand they were missing something: they were spreading the ball from side to side effectively, but were not going forward. Any time they did breach the first line of defence the player was isolated and the attack was stopped and forced to go back.
And full credit to the Knox defence, they smothered the Cranbrook attack. In a few cases Cranbrook went backwards in attack due to the intensity of the defence. In the first round, Cranbrook’s forwards definitely shaded those of Knox. Not this time.
The half settled into a pattern in which Cranbrook dominated possession and territory. This forced Knox into errors and to give away penalties. However Cranbrook couldn’t dominate Knox, nor their dominance in territory and possession be reflected in the scoreboard.
Cranbrook were scoring on a regular basis, a smart try to McCombe (5) after a good build-up of effective attack, and penalties, but Knox weren’t beaten. You could count the times Knox got into the Cranbrook half on one hand, but when they got to the 22 Knox scored.
Though the tries were by forwards, they were ensemble affairs, with backs and forwards combining working off each other. It was not only their defence that was threatening and stultifying their attack, but the counterattack ability of Knox from anywhere on the field was a latent threat.
At half time it was 19 – 16 to Knox. Three tries to one. The scoreboard indicated that it was a close game, and Cranbrook had come back in other games to win. But Knox was playing with a potent intensity (they had a 2nd rower sin-binned late in the first half for a dangerous tackle). They looked as they wanted to win.
Second half
The defensive effort by Knox in the first half must have dismayed Cranbrook and this was reflected after the break.
Cranbrook had thrown everything at Knox in the first half, but to not much avail. The intensity of the Knox defence had taken the sting out of Cranbrook and this allowed for a more open game in the second half.
Knox was irresistible in attack and their defence remained stout. Spaces started appearing in the hitherto resolute Cranbrook defence to allow the Knox runners to make territory and score some good tries.
The usual names were there Widders-Leece (2) and Watson (10) plus van Zyl (6) (his second). Watson’s try was a good solo effort showing his speed and ability to make space and beat people. Widders-Leece is just powerful and quick. Perhaps the best effort was Price (14) scoring a classic winger’s try from 10 meters out from the Knox line. By the end of the game Cranbrook looked a beaten side – Knox maintained the intensity.
Late in the game Knox had another player sin-binned (Widders-Leece for a high tackle), but it was late and Cranbrook had lost momentum. Cranbrook are a good side, but on the day they had no plan B and Knox was a definite class above them.
In the end Knox scored eight tries to one and gave Cranbrook their first loss of the year.
Final score: Knox 52 – Cranbrook 16.
The teams
Knox
They play a high paced vigorous game in which players keep the ball alive and backs and forwards combine well. However this style can be error-prone and they do leave tries on the field, but also create tries when none should be there.
If Knox wanted revenge for their round 1 loss, they got it. This team visibly showed a desire to win and they did that with style.
Cranbrook
The Brook have a powerful forward pack that grinds and applies pressure, and they use their backs to utilise the opportunities that are created. Their consistency and steadfastness must be congratulated.
The players
Knox
Knox looked very good yesterday. It is hard to single out individual players, but Pierce (7) had one of his better games. The tight 5 of Knox may struggle in some of the set pieces, but they are mobile, good with ball in hand and ever present.
Widders-Leece took some stopping and has the ability to offload when smothered in defenders. Watson adds a lot as 10. Knox’s defence was strong and some of the tackling brutal.
Cranbrook
Makkas (8) had a good game for The Brook. He is powerful, mobile and committed. Hill (1) was prominent, and though they shunted the Knox pack a couple of times, the forwards were more evenly matched than in the first round. Cranbrook’s forwards play very tight, but this skill wasn’t sufficient in this game. Edelstein (14) showed some glimpses, but Cranbrook’s backs were well covered.
Though Carroll used his size and power to hit the line hard, they needed more straightening in the backs and more players in support of the ball carrier.
The Scoring
Knox 58 ( B Van Zyl 2, J Widders-Leece, C Watson, M Basson, J Williams, R Lacinski, L Price tries: L Bosch 6 cons, 2 pens,) def Cranbrook 16 ( L McCombe try, S Renton con, 3 pens)
See next page for report of Aloys v. Waverley
