Barker v St Joseph’s
I popped up to Barker to watch what I was expecting to be a white wash. The GPS thread has Joey’s as a real contender this year while Barker must rebuild from being at the bottom of the CAS ladder in 2015.
The 2nds showed spirit but lost 50/7 with Joey’s no 7 Paddy Dalton a standout. (He would walk into any CAS 1st XV side) Their no 10 Lachlan Day would also be amongst the first picked with a deadly accurate boot (6 from 7 conversions) and speed to burn. (Depth: the joys of attending Australia’s no 1 rugby nursey)
During the warm up, the Joey’s 1st XV boys looked strong, fit, mobile and very skilled. They worked their set piece with military precision. There was no exceptionally tall lads in their forwards but they certainly worked well as a unit.
Barker’s forward have added some bulk this year with Anstey, Woodgate and Webb providing some much needed starch to a reliable and solid front row.
An unforced error on kick off from Barker (one of many during the game) handed the momentum to Joey’s. Despite Joey’s winning their own scrums and lineouts with ease, the Barker forwards really scrapped it out. Hard hits by the Barker forwards and some desperate tackling by the backs, kept the Joey’s lads at bay. Sything runs by No8 Miti Tuinakauvadra and Capt no 13 Yirrbi Jaffer-Williams were repelled, many times only metres from the Barker try line. The inevitability of a cricket score was very real, but as yet unrealised.
Barker then started to link some phases. The forwards made the lads in cerise tackle. The Barker backs, although not as skilled or as fast as Joey’s, made solid inroads into the opposition. The Barker forwards had their tails up. After 18 minutes of good rugby, a rolling maul by the reds, gave Barker no9 David Tejcek some rare front foot ball. A bullet pass to no 10 Jayden Kitchener and Barker was over for the first score of the game.
Unfortunately Jayden was badly injured in the collision on the try line. A lengthy delay ensued while he was attended to. Apparently it was an accidental blow to the neck shoulder. Both teams are to be congratulated on their concern and applause when Jayden was taken from the field.
With their No 10 gone, Barkers 2nd XV no 10 came on. Having played a full and torrid game already, being thrust into this cauldron was a big ask.
The game started to turn. Joey’s with more possession and with speed and power, made light work of scoring tries. From this writers view the entire Joey’s back line would have been selected as the CAS 1st back line in 2015. Their ability to step off either foot, retain possession at the tackle and keep ball in hand across the park was a delight to watch.
Wingers Jacob Patmore and Joey Kandalaft were brilliant as was No18 (sorry for the no name here).
With Barker a man down in the sin bin, Joeys started racking up the tries, with No 10 Ryley Angus-Corke kicking goals from all corners of the park. The inevitability was unfolding.
With the scoreboard ticking over for Joey’s, the outcome became abundantly clear. This game proved to be a solid hit out for the Joey’s pack and the opportunity for a slick well drilled backline to strut their stuff. No doubt much sterner opposition awaits Joey’s in the GPS comp.
Barker did not give up, and eventually put reserve back no 19 (Mackensie Newell) over for a late try.
The wrap up from this writers view is that Joey’s will be a contender in the GPS comp in 2016. Their only weakness is a lack of tall timber to contest opposition line outs. The rest of the team is very solid and they have some class in the backs to make life difficult for any opposition schools team.
For Barker, there is a lot to be excited about. The forwards will hold their own this year in the CAS comp, and the backs have some good young players in Van Woerkom, Marais, Grundy and Tejcek to keep the scoreboard attendant busy through the year. Here’s hoping young Jayden is ok!
