BRUMBIEJACK1
Frank Row (1)
After the week that was for Knox with the dramatic injuries of James Armstrong, David Stenning and Jack Kane, it was expected that Knox would rebound and play a stellar game against a St Aloysius outfit that should be, on paper, an easy victory. Even before the game, the Knox tunnel was foreshadowing the disappointing result that would ensue. From the opening whistle, it was clear that that the tussle for the victory would be a game of survival in which the hungriest team would be victorious.
As the game ebbed and flowed in the opening minutes with penalty goals to both sides, Aloysius struck first with a fortuitously constructed play. Knox struck back and Knox was fortunate to lead at the break 10-8.
After the half-time break Knox seemed to click into gear, but that focus was short-lived and the struggle continued. In the end, poor conversion kicking from the Aloysius kicker proved costly, particularly with a chance directly in front of the posts that went begging.
Knox did one thing particularly well in shutting down the Aloysius main threat posed in the form of Alec Diamond. Knox forwards were dominant throughout the game but the lack of backline execution, only made possible by a poorly regimented coaching timetable and lack of running the plays to make the fool proof. Harry Chapman was once again in sublime touch. A clear headed leader who can dig his team out of trouble, he showed his versatility with a touch finder that cleared all forms of pressure at a critical stage of the game and allowed Knox to keep their head above water. Similarly, Tom Woodcock chose the best option most of the time and delivered it with perfection, holding the shape and giving Knox the best chance to dig their way out of trouble. Unfortunately, Leo Bosch failed to fire once again with a disappointing string of errors and turnovers at crucial points including two early missed tackles that contributed to the first eight points being put on by the men from Willoughby, not to mention the charged down kick that was similiar to the James O'Connor embarassment of Friday night.
Overall there wasn’t one thing to pin it down to. It feels like the Knox line is confused, like they’ve hit a mid season rut and can’t get out of it. Without their marquee players and coming up against a Cranbrook side that doesn’t give an inch next fixture, the Knox saga isn’t over… In fact the problems have only just begun.
As the game ebbed and flowed in the opening minutes with penalty goals to both sides, Aloysius struck first with a fortuitously constructed play. Knox struck back and Knox was fortunate to lead at the break 10-8.
After the half-time break Knox seemed to click into gear, but that focus was short-lived and the struggle continued. In the end, poor conversion kicking from the Aloysius kicker proved costly, particularly with a chance directly in front of the posts that went begging.
Knox did one thing particularly well in shutting down the Aloysius main threat posed in the form of Alec Diamond. Knox forwards were dominant throughout the game but the lack of backline execution, only made possible by a poorly regimented coaching timetable and lack of running the plays to make the fool proof. Harry Chapman was once again in sublime touch. A clear headed leader who can dig his team out of trouble, he showed his versatility with a touch finder that cleared all forms of pressure at a critical stage of the game and allowed Knox to keep their head above water. Similarly, Tom Woodcock chose the best option most of the time and delivered it with perfection, holding the shape and giving Knox the best chance to dig their way out of trouble. Unfortunately, Leo Bosch failed to fire once again with a disappointing string of errors and turnovers at crucial points including two early missed tackles that contributed to the first eight points being put on by the men from Willoughby, not to mention the charged down kick that was similiar to the James O'Connor embarassment of Friday night.
Overall there wasn’t one thing to pin it down to. It feels like the Knox line is confused, like they’ve hit a mid season rut and can’t get out of it. Without their marquee players and coming up against a Cranbrook side that doesn’t give an inch next fixture, the Knox saga isn’t over… In fact the problems have only just begun.
