As the CAS competition settled into its third week there were some changes of form and some scorelines were unexpected.
Aloys v Barker
by “rod skellet”
There were perfect ground conditions for this intriguing CAS Round 3 match. Both sides had a win and a loss from their opening games; so there was plenty at stake in this 1st XV clash.
First Half
The run-on teams looked fairly matched with the exception of the Aloys no 11 (Alex Diamond) who was, without doubt, the biggest unit on the field. The question posed by both Aloys and Barker parents in the crowd was: could he run??
The opening 15 minutes of play was even. Aloys; hooker Eric Stene was everywhere in the tight stuff, making good ground with ball in hand and being solid at the tackle. This was matched by Barker’s all-Year 11 front row of Tim Anstey, Tiaan Stals and Dan Buffa, who stopped the slightly bigger Aloys’ ball carriers crossing the advantage line.
The advantage swung to Aloys in the second quarter. The home side gained territory and possession from Baker dropping passes and also from the rush defence of Aloys’ centres, 12, Sam Lawson and 13 James Shiel-Dick. After one spilled ball near halfway, young right winger, Jack Mazaraki swooped and sprinted clear to score under the posts for Aloys.
Half-time score: Aloys 7 – Barker 0.
In the first half the Aloys’ pack dominated the first phase winning their own ball easily and making life tough for Barker when it was the Reds’ scrum or lineout—but it was clear that it was a close match at this point and that both teams had a chance to win.
Second Half
Aloys started the better after the break. A long kick-off by Mazaraki put the “boys in gold” deep into the Barker half. After an Barker turnover, Diamond, with time and space, wound up and bumped off three tacklers at least before strolling over for the first of his tries. His sideline conversion made the score 14-0 to Aloys.
After the re-start, another Barker turnover gave possession back to the leaders. Their no 10 Pierce Cohen chipped ahead into space for Diamond, who ran in a simple try which he converted. Barker were searching for answers with the score 21-0 against them.
Aloy’s forwards were providing a solid platform for their backs, who did the simple things well (catching, passing, running onto the ball), to give big Diamond possession and space. He was so strong running with the ball, bumping off solo tacklers, that Barker had to commit several players to bring him down.
He is not sprinter-fast but by gee he is strong, and will press for CAS 1st XV selection.
After the kick-off Barker dropped more passes and knocked on more ball—and it wasn’t as though Aloys were applying that much pressure—they just could not execute simple things. After another turnover Aloy’s were on the front foot, and hooker Eric Stene, who was sea-gulling on the wing, ran onto a nice cut-out pass and bumped off three Barker tacklers to score.
Looming outside Stene was Diamond ; so if he did not score the big bopperx would have had his third meat pie. Aloys 26-0 with ten minutes remaining.
The Aloys’ lads had their tails up now. They caused errors with their rush defence and got a feast of possession. After another crisp back line move their fullback Tom Dunlop scored. Diamond converted and Aloys led 33-0 with eight minutes to go.
Barker was frustrated: their errors, forced or unforced, had thrown them off their game. Typical of their afternoon was a solid three- or four-phase play, gaining 35 metres upfield, only to drop the ball over the line. Heads in hands said it all.
Eventually scrumhalf Simon Purcell scored Barker’s only points of the day with a try from the back of a scrum.
Full-time score: Aloys 33 – Barker 5.
The players
Barker
3 points – Tim Anstey (LHP), 2 points – Tiaan Stals (2), 1 point – Bruce Thompson (10)
Aloys
3 points – Alex Diamond (11), 2 points – Eric Stene (2), 1 point – Tom Dunlop (15)
Wrap-up
Aloys have a strike weapon in Alex Diamond. Apparently this was his best game of the year so maybe consistency could be an issue. He has enough pace for a winger but it is his brutal size that makes him so dangerous. Given enough clean ball running at pace, he will be difficult for any opposing GPS or CHS winger to handle.
The Aloys’ forwards played well as a pack, delivering clean first phase ball to a back line that did the simple things well.
Barker had a shocker. Dropped passes, poor lineout throwing or catching, and endless knock-ons, gifted plenty of unwarranted possession to St Aloysius.
Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com
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