What a game. It had it all- ebb and flow, up and down, physicality and skill, early tries, late comebacks, and in the end an underdog victory. Newington scored two late tries to overhaul the much-fancied home side in a thrilling match, finishing 26-25.
The game was always going to be a tight encounter. Newington came into the game undefeated, chasing their first premiership since 1979, however they were yet to face any of the year’s title contenders. Kings regained some much-needed confidence with a good away win over Riverview, yet needed to finish the season undefeated if they had any hope of getting a hand on the trophy.
First impressions were striking. Newington had a definite size advantage, with two huge islander props and a heavy back row. Kings looked light by comparison, and didn’t waste any time in spreading the ball wide to take advantage of this fact. Newington started slowly, and Kings scored an early try to Chris Ingate from a good offload by winger Jono Behne-Smith after the ball went wide. Converted by Josh McCormack, Kings were looking comfortable early.
Newington began to work into the game in the next 20 minutes, and starved Kings of the ball for long periods. Marshalled by halfback Mark Bannon the boys in white pounded the Kings defensive line mercilessly, with charging runs from props Ezrah Amituanai and Allan Alaalataoa. Already, though, the standout of the game was Newington captain and inside centre Apolosi Latunipulu. With bruising defence and an incredible ability to break tackles, he was head and shoulders above every other player. He scored well-worked try off the back of a solid scrum, and converted to level the scores.
However Kings quickly struck back after regaining possession from the restart. Newington’s wide defence was looking suspect, and a break from winger Tom Horne resulted in a try to prop Jed Gillespie, diving over from close range. Despite having the bulk of possession, Newington were struggling to put points on the board. The Kings backrow was again outstanding, with openside Tom Connor easily Kings’ best. After being held-up over the line, Newington went to the break down 12-7.
Kings started the second half strongly with an early penalty to McCormack, who controlled his backline very well, and his kicking game was superb. However once again Newington looked relaxed and composed, and thanks to good work in tight they advanced to the Kings line where winger Nathan Roye dived over after a good scrum move. With Latunipulu converting, the score was a tight 15-14 to the home side, and the last twenty minutes looked enticing.
Once again, though, Kings responded to a Newington score with a quick one of their own. A good break from standout winger Horne set up a good try to flyhalf McCormack, who exposed some tired defence close to the ruck. Returning to the kick-off I thought the pace of the game was starting to show, and the big Newington forwards were sucking in the big ones. Another quick penalty to McCormack and the score was 25-14, and the challenge looked too much for Newington. Kings were looking composed, fit and in control.
In the words of Frank Stallone, though, this game was far from over. Newington slowly worked up the field, with Australian Schoolboy hooker Hugh Roach finally making his presence felt with some dynamic work in close. After pounding the line for around 5 minutes they broke through, with prop Amituanai barging over. It was then 25-19 and Newington had a glimmer, but time was running out. All of a sudden, though, there was a spring in their step, and they attacked with confidence. A break by outside centre Brogan Roods set up another attacking foray, which they converted quickly with a try out wide to fullback Matthew Gibson. The small Newington crowd went wild, and it was then 26-25. A few uneventful minutes later and it was game over. Newington were deserving victors.
Latunipulu was easily the best player on the field. He was inspirational, and without him the game would have been a very different story. However the game was won, as it so often is, in the front row. Amituanai and Alaalatoa comprehensively outplayed their Australian representative opponents. Roach was dynamic, however his lineout throwing let him down on a number of occasions. Number 8 Joel Luani was another standout for the winning side, along with outside centre Roods and winger Roye. Kings put in a polished all-round performance but in the end were outplayed. The lineout was dominant, and hooker Tim Reid’s throws were flawless, as were the well-constructed mauls. Their defence was dogged, but in the end they had no answer to the crash-and-barge tactics of their bigger opposition.
This was one of the best games I have seen in years. Whilst the thrilling finish had a lot to do with that, the standard of play was nonetheless fantastic. There were very few messy errors, and both teams moved the ball well. Every player can hold their head high, knowing they played out a game that all at White Oval will remember for some time.
This is what Lee Grant had to say about Joeys vs Riverview:
It was a great game and you couldn’t pick the winner until the final bell. The lead changed 7 times and that’s not counting twice when it became tied. Joeys scored 5 tries to 4 but that didn’t signify a lot. I felt empathy for the View lads as neither team deserved to lose that game. With 6 boys back next year (plus another 7 from the Twos) View should have a top team in 2011 and they will be looking for revenge.
A lot of the tries were scored from turnover ball and a couple were punishments of bad kicks. The teams were a mirror image of each other: blue heeler, hard tackling forwards and backs willing to get the ball out wide. Joeys found themselves defending with 2 against 4 in the backline too many times, as they did against Kings, but they scrambled well most of the time and snuffed them out.
There were some well constructed back moves from both teams but they often wanted a better thrown pass to complete a move. Ironically the long passing game of the teams was better than the short passing. A few times I had to blink as 10. Dillon Walford launched wide attacks from long balls on the money as though from Bernie Larkham. He also dodged and weaved for breaks, but often carrying the ball like a bunch of flowers and dropping it – or getting isolated. That’s Dill: what you see is what you get.
His mate from Walgett, 12. Ashby, had another top game and it’s a pity that he didn’t have his current form earlier in the season as he looks like a rep player now. He ran through gaps that weren’t really there and tackled like a demon. A third indigenous lad, 14. Buchanan, had a fine game as did 11. Hulme and 15 Le Lievre.
For View 9. Donlan played well and gave a nice bridge pass for the 1st View try, but I felt that he should have sniped a bit more to mix up the attack. 11. Whiteley also look dangerous and hooker Weeks was a goer. But the best visitor to Hunters Hill was 13. Barry, who ripped holes in the Joeys backline and had he had more sympathetic support a couple of times View would have won.
This is what Spewn had to say about Shore vs Grammar
On a windy and cold day at Weigall, Shore played Grammar in a game many of the Grammar faithful hoped to be the boys’ long-awaited victory. As it was a Back-to-Weigall day, there was a good, noisy crowd. Shore came away with the victory, but it could have gone either way. Unfortunately two refereeing blunders in the last 10 to 15 minutes spoiled the Grammar party in what was otherwise a reasonably entertaining match between two evenly-matched teams.
Shore started strongly running with the wind. They had Grammar under pressure with their big pack getting over the advantage line quite easily. Shore definitely missed a fetcher today with Irons out of the team. Graham for Grammar was able to steal quite a few at the breakdown, the first of which occurred just inside the Grammar half after the initial Shore barrage. The ball went from Graham out to the left and through quick hands ended up with Bromwich who raced clear, drew the fullback and passed inside to Attard with a changed angle to go in under the posts. Bromwich converted for Grammar to lead 7-0 after about 20 minutes.
Shore again pressured through their big forwards. In traditional Shore fashion, the pack relied on rolling mauls from lineouts to gain the ascendancy. One maul travelled about 15 metres before fracturing (or being brought down). Shore would have been better served to keep it in the forwards as the likes of Berkman, Wood, Rollins and Sinclair got over the advantage line time and again, only to be brought up short by some desperate defence. When they passed out wide, the ball was turned over. A special mention to the Grammar back row, Graham, Robinson and Hay, who are really three number 7’s. Their tenacity at the breakdown was a feature and denied Shore a try on many occasions. Robinson and Hay especially are much underrated players compared to the backrow of other teams.
In a see-sawing half, Grammar then drove it up field and spent about 5 to 10 minutes in the Shore half. Grammar were unlucky not to score another try or at least a penalty conversion (Bromwich missed an easy one close to the sticks). However, Grammar then decided to opt for a perennial favourite tactic of their’s – let’s let the opposition back into the game. It worked. The Grammar fullback fumbled the ball twice within a few minutes to enable Shore to go deep into their half. Quick ball out the backline (which was caught) ended with Streeter going in out wide. Failed conversion. Grammar up 7-5 at the break.
The second half started similarly to the first. Shore dominated possession early. The forwards hit up through the middle, Rollins looking a handful every time he touched the ball. Constant pressure saw another Shore try. Grammar soon hit back with a try to inside centre Max Jones off set piece ball. Try converted for a 14-10 scoreline. Jones was the stand out Grammar back, if not for both teams. He plays very close to the advantage line and has the ability to beat the first tackler. His defence this week was very good after a couple of disappointing misses against Newington.
Recognising the weakness on the Grammar right wing, Shore then concentrated down that side. A big run from a rampaging Rollins saw a Shore lineout close to the Grammar line. Darting between a team mate and the ref, Draper I think crossed. Cleaver converted. Shore up 17-14.
A penalty soon followed with Shore up 20-14, and the game appeared over for Grammar. They kept it in the forwards where pick and drive from Barratt (who was tireless all day in tight), Robinson, Brown and Graham got Grammar well over the advantage line. For the final 15 minutes Grammar was well inside the Shore half, if not their 22. Shore seemed incapable of clearing it. Their forwards were superb in defence and all must be congratulated as the Grammar forwards drove to the line. Shore saw little ball, and when they did, it was under pressure. About 8 minutes to go, Shore had a scrum on their 22. Graham charged down Cleaver’s kick, Smith regathered to score near the posts. The Grammar crowd erupted only to deflate like a punctured Mr Creosote ball as the ref ruled a knock on. As Smith did not knock on, I can only assume he called Graham’s charge down a knock on. More heartbreak was to follow. With a minute or so to go, Hay dived over out wide. He clearly grounded the ball (as I was pretty close by), but the ref was obscured as was the touch judge. No try. Game over. I should say that I was not convinced Grammar would have converted the Hay try.
Shore wins in a thriller between two even teams. Although some skills lacking, it was a good game. Well done. Played in the right spirit throughout. Best for Shore – the entire forward pack for their defence. That pack should trouble other higher placed teams. Streeter good in the backs as was Draper. For Grammar, Barratt, Graham, Robinson and Hay were the best forwards with Jones and Attard the best in the backs.
