Had to take my son for x-rays so missed the games this morning and just made it back in time for the NSW Schools v NSW Country game.
After yesterdays display by NSW Country I must admit I was prepared for a slaughter today. Three minutes into the game and from a scrum deep in their own half NSW Schools passed the ball along the back line for the No.11 to score in the corner. A beautiful kick from the sideline saw them race to a 7-0 lead.
Schools won the ball from the kick off and kicked deep into Country territory, their full back failed to find touch with a poor clearing kick and it cost them dearly with the schools No.12 running through the middle to score under the posts after 5 minutes. 14-0.
From the restart Schools won the ball deep in their territory and passed the ball along the back line for their No.22 to run down the wing and score under the posts. 21-0 after 7 1/2 half minutes.
Good pressure by Country saw schools knock down a pass and from the resulting penalty they threatened the Schools try line by taking the tap. Scrappy play saw Schools pick up a loose ball and run down the wing. A lobbed basket ball pass that went metres forward, (to the ARU official who was taking stats and said it wasn't. I told you so!
), also helped them gain valuable ground but they gave a penalty away in the first ruck 60 metres down field. Country then returned the favour but infringing and a tap and run saw Schools down in Country territory. Another ball along the back line and another forward pass (I saw that one too) saw a try under the posts. How come I can see these forward passes and I'm looking through a lens? 28-0 after 17 minutes.
Country then began to get into a rhythm and pressured School's line but to no avail and play then continued back and fore between each teams 22 line. With Schools attacking on the Country 22 a ball was knocked forward into the hands of the Country No.12 and with a duck and a turn he was through the back line and racing to the corner. A beautiful out wide conversion saw the whistle blown for HT with the score at 28-7.
Country now had the strong wind in their backs, were more determined and were prepared to hassle the Schools side. A ball stolen in a maul by the Country No.8 on the 22 saw Schools under pressure, and a few pick and drives saw the Country No.9 go over in the corner on the 34 minute mark. 28-12.
Schools then began to pressure Country again, although the backline passing wasn't as fluent as in the 1st half. Little mistakes allowed Country to regain the ball make ground back into Schools territory by breaking through the Schools line. A kick into the corner almost saw Country scoring with the Schools No.15 just managing to get the ball down in the in goal area ahead of the Country No.11.
Country weren't giving in without a fight, however, a scrum infringement inside the oppositions half saw Schools run the ball from the tap, passing along the line, and then back again to the other side to gain an overlap so as to score out wide. 33-12 after 51 minutes.
Schools knocked forward from the restart and from the scrum Country were able to attack once again. A grubber kick on the Schools 22 (shaking my head) into the legs of the defenders allowed Schools to regain the ball. An infringement a little up field saw Schools kick poorly for touch and only gain five metres. They then lost the lineout and Country again pressured making ground to the Schools 22. Another grubber kick, better luck on the next set of six, (can't you tell I hate them ) resulted in a knock forward and a scrum feed to Schools. From the clearing kick Schools were penalised for offside which allowed Country once again to attack the opposition only to be held up over the line adjacent to the posts. Country attacked from the 5 metre scrum only to be denied on the line a number of times and Schools finally being penalised for a ruck infringement. From the tap Country passed the ball wide and from a pick and drive saw the No.1 go over in the corner right on the final whistle.
Final score - NSW Schools 33 v NSW Country 17
Schools passed the ball beautifully along the backs in the first half but were generally scrappy in the second. Full credit to Country, they should be proud of themselves as they could of dropped their heads at 28-0 but they didn't. At 28-12 if they had used the wind and kicked to the corners there was always a chance that the lineout throws would not have been straight.
Will see what I can do with videos tomorrow.
After yesterdays display by NSW Country I must admit I was prepared for a slaughter today. Three minutes into the game and from a scrum deep in their own half NSW Schools passed the ball along the back line for the No.11 to score in the corner. A beautiful kick from the sideline saw them race to a 7-0 lead.
Schools won the ball from the kick off and kicked deep into Country territory, their full back failed to find touch with a poor clearing kick and it cost them dearly with the schools No.12 running through the middle to score under the posts after 5 minutes. 14-0.
From the restart Schools won the ball deep in their territory and passed the ball along the back line for their No.22 to run down the wing and score under the posts. 21-0 after 7 1/2 half minutes.
Good pressure by Country saw schools knock down a pass and from the resulting penalty they threatened the Schools try line by taking the tap. Scrappy play saw Schools pick up a loose ball and run down the wing. A lobbed basket ball pass that went metres forward, (to the ARU official who was taking stats and said it wasn't. I told you so!
), also helped them gain valuable ground but they gave a penalty away in the first ruck 60 metres down field. Country then returned the favour but infringing and a tap and run saw Schools down in Country territory. Another ball along the back line and another forward pass (I saw that one too) saw a try under the posts. How come I can see these forward passes and I'm looking through a lens? 28-0 after 17 minutes.Country then began to get into a rhythm and pressured School's line but to no avail and play then continued back and fore between each teams 22 line. With Schools attacking on the Country 22 a ball was knocked forward into the hands of the Country No.12 and with a duck and a turn he was through the back line and racing to the corner. A beautiful out wide conversion saw the whistle blown for HT with the score at 28-7.
Country now had the strong wind in their backs, were more determined and were prepared to hassle the Schools side. A ball stolen in a maul by the Country No.8 on the 22 saw Schools under pressure, and a few pick and drives saw the Country No.9 go over in the corner on the 34 minute mark. 28-12.
Schools then began to pressure Country again, although the backline passing wasn't as fluent as in the 1st half. Little mistakes allowed Country to regain the ball make ground back into Schools territory by breaking through the Schools line. A kick into the corner almost saw Country scoring with the Schools No.15 just managing to get the ball down in the in goal area ahead of the Country No.11.
Country weren't giving in without a fight, however, a scrum infringement inside the oppositions half saw Schools run the ball from the tap, passing along the line, and then back again to the other side to gain an overlap so as to score out wide. 33-12 after 51 minutes.
Schools knocked forward from the restart and from the scrum Country were able to attack once again. A grubber kick on the Schools 22 (shaking my head
) into the legs of the defenders allowed Schools to regain the ball. An infringement a little up field saw Schools kick poorly for touch and only gain five metres. They then lost the lineout and Country again pressured making ground to the Schools 22. Another grubber kick, better luck on the next set of six, (can't you tell I hate them ) resulted in a knock forward and a scrum feed to Schools. From the clearing kick Schools were penalised for offside which allowed Country once again to attack the opposition only to be held up over the line adjacent to the posts. Country attacked from the 5 metre scrum only to be denied on the line a number of times and Schools finally being penalised for a ruck infringement. From the tap Country passed the ball wide and from a pick and drive saw the No.1 go over in the corner right on the final whistle.Final score - NSW Schools 33 v NSW Country 17
Schools passed the ball beautifully along the backs in the first half but were generally scrappy in the second. Full credit to Country, they should be proud of themselves as they could of dropped their heads at 28-0 but they didn't. At 28-12 if they had used the wind and kicked to the corners there was always a chance that the lineout throws would not have been straight.
Will see what I can do with videos tomorrow.
