An update on the report provided by Cash. Sadly, I seem to have lost another camera, so I could not take photos. The TAS player was, I think, the number fifteen in the Seconds, Brett-Kelly Wirth according to the program. More on him in a moment.
It was a very hot day at Weigall. Needless to say, while I was told that I should bring a hat, I forgot so am somewhat pink. In terms of the food competition, I was very hungry so had the lot. Bot bad. "Dear those country boys can eat", someone on the canteen said.
Overall results across the board first. I only picked up snippets, but it seemed to be that the two schools were fairly evenly balanced. I will get the full results later, for they should provide a comparison of the depth across the presently two strongest minnows.
The seconds kicked off a bit after twelve. There were some early penalties against TAS, but TAS then scored at around the 6th minute, then again at the 11th minute and then around the 19th minute, all converted. Grammar in shock.
This is where the number 15 came in. He was very fast and also a very good kicker both on field and in converting tries. Constantly hovering for the intercept, once with the ball he was very hard indeed to stop. I'm not sure how old he is. I'm not good at judging, but when I saw him close up. I would guess year 11.
Grammar fought back, scoring just before the break. Half time score 21-5.
Just into the second half, TAS scored another runaway try that was converted. A TAS boy was then yellow carded. Two minutes later, Grammar was in for a try that was then converted. The Grammar forwards then attacked and attacked in driving rugby, requiring desperate TAS defence to keep them out. In the end, the second half was a draw, with the final score 28-12.
After the seconds, I was looking forward to the main match, but Grammar were just so much the better looking team. They scored quite early, converted and then scored again ten minutes later, converted. Now TAS were looking shell-shocked.
While TAS was holding in the forwards, the Grammar backs always looked dangerous. Ten minutes after the second Grammar try, and against the run of play, the TAS Seconds number fifteen now playing at no 19, ran away with the ball to score. Half time Grammar 14-TAS 5.
The second half began with a quick Grammar Grammar try, converted and then another one. A Grammar player was then yellow cared, with TAS scoring one minute later. The final score was, I think, 26-10.
Looking at the game from a tactical perspective. TAS has some back-line work to do. They may, as Cash suggests, just have been tired. But the TAS backs were standing very deep. I counted at one point, and it was taking 3-4 seconds to get into position to take the pass. By then, the cover defence was across. The TAS players were also bunching, with up to three or four Grammar backs being effectively unmarked. Only some blinding one on one ankle tackles stopped what might have become a rout.
The tackle of the match, at least of those I saw, belonged to the TAS number 19. The Grammar backline had broken way with two players in support , the TAS backline was in disarray. Starting from some 30 metres behind, the number 19 accelerated across field and managed to dive tackle the Grammar boy around the legs close to the line.
While I could wish that TAS had done better, Grammar really deserved their win. They are a very good team.
