CAS Round 6 surprise

Waverley 12 – Knox 10

In the biggest upset of the season so far, the gutsy no frills Waverley team defeated odds-on favourites Knox in a nail biter.

by “Anonymous Al”

In a classic David and Goliath story; in one of the biggest upsets in recent memory, the gutsy no frills Waverley team defeated the star studded Knox side in a nail biter.

Knox had been billed as one of two supreme CAS rugby teams for the season, while minnows Waverley had been written off as being lucky to win a single game. But if Waverley had no chance of matching it with heavyweights Knox, someone must have forgotten to tell their coaches and players.

It was an epic battle; a grinding arm wrestle for the entire match. Waverley proved the old saying true: ‘it’s not the dog in the fight that counts; it’s the fight in the dog’. Had they narrowly lost, they would have been magnificent in defeat, but they didn’t; they won. They were courageous.

The Knox team was bigger, faster and stronger and looked very classy at times, but Waverley’s ball control and fierce, scrambling defence rattled them and spoilt their chances of getting into a rhythm for much of the game. Waverley was successful with many last ditch defensive efforts to protect their own end of the field, and they were relentless; playing with the same dogged determination for the full seventy minutes. It frustrated Knox and forced them into making mistakes and giving away penalties.

At half time it was one try each: 7-5 to Waverley. Half of the crowd would have expected the inevitable to happen after the break; for the powerful Knox team to dominate and run away with the game. The other half, after seeing the Waverley boys tear into the visitors without fear in the first half would have been filled with a quiet expectation.

But nothing changed when play resumed; the Waverley boys didn’t tire or give up or self destruct through ill discipline. It was the Knox players who started losing their cool. Waverley kept working hard; powering forward in attack; throwing the ball around and getting up in the faces of the opposition in defence.

The Knox boys didn’t give up either: they worked hard and scored out wide to edge ahead 10-7, but didn’t go on to dominate as expected. When Waverley crossed for a five pointer to make it 12-10 the subdued expectation from half time turned into a crescendo of loud excitable barracking from the Queens Park crowd. They could smell a victory against all the odds. The compulsory Year 7 boys who weren’t too enthused before the game were caught up in a memorable experience cheering on their school’s top rugby team.

The last ten minutes was intense; Knox looked threatening but kept running into the Waverley brick wall defence. Teenage testosterone and emotions were running high on the field for the battered, bruised and muddied combatants. One forward from each team was yellow carded after a fiery melee erupted. A touch judge’s report in the last minute that saw Knox penalised for having an extra player on the field added to the suspense and drama.

When the full time whistle eventually blew it was Waverley who had hung on to win a thriller at Death Valley. It was the Waverley underdogs who pumped their fists in triumph and embraced each other. Swarms of schoolboys and supporters invaded the field in wild celebration. The scene where students and adults gathered four deep around the players as they performed their unique victory song, was inspirational.

Looking at the game, the forwards from both sides played tough in attack and defence, but Waverley was much more disciplined this week. Even though they were giving away height and weight to the Knox pack they matched them for most of the game and bettered them for some of it. As hard as the Knox forwards tried they couldn’t intimidate or dominate, even though they did manage to win a couple of tight head scrums.

It would have been expected that the Knox backline would be too speedy and classy and would score out wide to win the contest, and they did score on two occasions, but for most of the game they couldn’t penetrate the Waves line. The tackling and defensive structure from the Waverley backs had to be good to contain their talented opponents and it proved to be just that; it was excellent.

Both of Waverley’s tries were scored by forwards: one by prop forward Will Picone off a short ball from their number 10 and the other by flanker Will Carr backing up a half break by the replacement half back. Both tries were scored from good field position. Every Waverley player was passionate and brave, and displayed a physical and mental toughness that would have had their coaches in raptures. They showed a fierce camaraderie and won a gripping battle as a fully committed, enthusiastic and much improved team.

The Knox tries were scored by their classy centres Connor Watson and Lucas Price on the back of some very good lead up work by their forwards and inside backs. For the Knox players, it would have been a long drive home but they’ll take a lot out of the game upon reflection. They were passionate and committed; they didn’t surrender. They were beaten by a better team on the day.

Unfortunately for Knox their goal kicker had an off day with the boot while Waverley’s goal kicker raised the flags once which made all the difference on the scoreboard.

It was a great day for “The Waves”.

Scoring

Waverley 12 ( W Picone, W Carr tries; D Narayan con ) def Knox 10 ( L Price, C Watson tries)