NRC Rnd 7: Greater Sydney Rams v North Harbour Rays

[Hugh Jarse]

Where: Pirtek Stadium, Sydney
When: Thursday 1 October, 7.30pm AEST

Match Referee: Andrew Lees
Assistant Referees: Michael Hogan, Amy Perrett
TMO: Ian Smith

Broadcast Information: LIVE on Fox Sports Channel 502

2015 Greater Sydney Rams Form Guide: LBLLLL
2015 North Harbour Rays Form Guide: LWLLBL

Last Time They Met: 28/09/14; North Harbour Rays 34 - 34 Greater Sydney Rams; Brookvale Oval, Sydney

Match Notes: Local pride will be at stake when the Rays travel west to take on the Rams in Parramatta. Hamish Angus is the third top points scorer in the competition with 59. In contrast, the Rams top points scorer has just 25.

North Harbour Rays

1. Mitch LEWIS (Manly)
2. Luke HOLMES (captain, Warringah)
3. Alex HOLMES (Bond University)
4. Ruairidh WILSON (Gordon)
5. Ryan MELROSE (Manly)
6. Harry BERGELIN (Manly)
7. Boyd KILLINGWORTH (Warringah)
8. Harry RORKE (Gordon)
9. Josh HOLMES (Warringah)
10. Sam LANE (Manly)
11. John PORCH (Northern Suburbs)
12. Reece HODGE (Manly)
13. Dennis PILI-GAITAU (Manly)
14. Michael ADAMS (Warringah)
15. Hamish ANGUS (Warringah)

16. Vance ELLIOTT (Manly)
17. Rory O'CONNOR (Gordon)
18. Lawrance HUNTING (Northern Suburbs)
19. Cameron TRELOAR (Warringah)
20. Mitch DANIEL (Manly)
21. Tim DONLAN (Manly)
22. Tom HILL (Eastwood)
23. Sione ALA (Gordon)



https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net/hprofile-AK (Andrew Kellaway)-xap1/v/t1.0-1/p50x50/10563032_325459617620101_7634819428324859865_n.jpg?oh=f190d462caf2de25780450b70cb1f234&oe=5638C983&__gda__=1446364341_b7f3f9fb711b8f70a3612bc0d77265f4 Greater Sydney Rams
1. Cameron ORR
2. Hugh ROACH
3. Sam NEEDS
4. Jake DOUGLAS
5. Marcus CARBONE
6. Jono HAYES
7. Cohen MASSON
8. Jed HOLLOWAY
9. Dewet ROOS
10. Paul ASQUITH
11. Larry HERMENS
12. Michael McDOUGALL
13. Jordan HEYER
14. Matt TEKI
15. Afa PAKALANI

16. Jed GILLESPIE
17. Siliva SILIVA
18. Cameron BETHAM
19. Will MUNRO
20. Kelly MEAFUA
21. Caleb RECH
22. Rohan SAIFOLOI
23. Brenden HARTMANN

G&GR Preview (@RugbyReg) says: (http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/nrc-round-7-preview-2/)
Sure this may be a bottom of the table clash but it should be one of the matches of the weekend. The Rams are yet to win a game and the Rays have won just one, however both teams have shown the ability to be able to mix it with their more fancied opponents. This week they face-off in the TV game which should be great viewing as they are equally matched teams both busting a gut to land the victory and finish the season with bragging rights in the local derby.
Key Matchups:
That clash of the scrum-halves will be epic. Both Josh Holmes for the Rays and Dewet Roos for the Rams have been close to their teams’ best. Both love the combative contest and will relish the chance to go up against a player of similar ilk Thursday night.
Sam Lane is fought his way back in the Rays team following injury and provides a calm and astute rugby brain to a guide his backline. Paul Asquith has been moved to 10 for the Rams seemingly in an effort to ignite his outside backs. Whether he has the game management skills to marshal his backline is the question.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Dewet Roos sin binned.

Unsure about the Rams tactic of using Asquith at 10.

18 minutes gone, Roos back on the field. Rays lead 13 - 5 (2T to 1T).

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Meat pie for Hermens (Rays - 11). Conversion no good from Teki. Rams trail 10 -13 after 23 minutes.

So much for my tips.
Cohen Masson grabs some meat & Matt Teki converts. 28 minutes and Rams take the lead for the first time. 18-13.

Approaching Oranges and score is unchanged. Hamish Angus is off injured for the Rays (22 Tom Hill is the replacement). A bit of claret being spilt by a couple of players.

Pic: @BuildcorpNRC twitter

Oranges:

Greater Sydney Rams 18 (C. Masson (10), L Hermans (22), C. Masson (26) tries: M Teki (27) cons) lead North Harbour Rays 13 (R. Hodge (7), J. Porch (14) tries: H. Angus (7) cons)

Rams have had 67% possession. Rays have missed 23 tackles. Rams have had 7+ phases on 5 occasions to 0 from the Rays. Rams have 63 R/M to 17 for Rays. Rams have had 79 runs for 444 metres compared to 23 runs for 181 metres.

Rams should be further ahead according to the stats.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Rays have 140 kg plus advantage at scrum time, but are not taking advantage of this.

Cam Orr has left the field (blood bin?). Jed Gillespie with a haircut that would more usually be seen on a wing takes the field as a sub.

 

[qwerty51]

You didn't do the maths HJ. 740kgs is 92kgs per forward.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^ Relied on Fox Sports for the maths. Seemed a little low when it was presented at the first scrum, but the Rays destroyed the Rams, so it seemed plausible that they were well under weight in comparison.

Seems a bit more starch in the Rams pack with Gillespie on at LHP.
Orr is back on from the Blood bin.

Will Munro is on for the Rams, Carbonne off.
Lawrence Hunting is on. A Holmes off.
Luke Holmes replaced by Vance Elliot.
Cam Trelor on for Rays. Think Rorke is off.
Rory O'Connor on for Rays. Lewis off.

54 minutes. No change to the score. Rams 18 - Rays 13.
J Holmes off and Tim Donlan on for the Rays.

60 minutes. No change to the score. Roche off injured and Siliva on. Hartman on for ?

Tom Hill jags a flukey try after McDougall fails to effectively clean up a kick through from Hill. Meat and conversion to the Rays. Lead is now with them by 3. First time all half that the Rays have been in the Rams half and they score.

64 minutes. Rays 21 - 18 Rams.
J Holmes off and Tim Donlan on for the Rays.
Cohen Masson is off. Kelly Meafua on.

Jono Hayes grabs some meat from a lineout maul which is unconverted. Rams goalkicking woes continue. Rams grab the lead back by 2 points. 72 minutes gone & Rams lead 23 - 21 Rays.

Needs replaced by Beetham for the Rams. 5 minutes to go.
Orr off. Gillespie with a silly haircut is back on. 1 minute to go.

Rams looking good for their first win of 2015.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Fat Shiela is singing.

Greater Sydney Rams 23 (C. Masson (10), L Hermans (22), C. Masson (26), J. Hayes (71) tries: M Teki (27) con) defeat North Harbour Rays 21 (R. Hodge (7), J. Porch (14), T Hill (64) tries: H. Angus (7), R. Hodge (64) cons)

Rays have missed out on a place in the finals.

 

[Pfitzy]

Jeez. That was hard to watch in places. Can't fathom why Roos is getting so much game time. Understand conditions were hard but his passing is slow and not in front of the man, then Asquith at 10 was meh and Pakalani never fucking passes to someone running a better line.