Playing rugby in 2009

[the gambler]

How was it playing under lights?

We ventured down to Campbelltown which I must admit wasnt high on my list of favourite places to spend ANZAC day. Plucked another intercept but this time got mowed down (wasnt wearing the white boots) and we went down 14-10. We did manage to move off the bottom of the club championship table though.

 

[Pfitzy]

How was it playing under lights?

Yeah pretty good actually. I was a bit worried because its a cricket oval so the lights were a fair way back, but there were pretty high so no issues with getting the lights in your eyes (not that props should be looking up at the sky) and visibility was pretty good. The ref may not have been of the same mind - a few knocks-on were missed including one for our third try, and I knocked on at the back of a couple of rucks and got away with it.

 

[boarman]

No club games this weekend but we did have a North vs South zone game on Friday night to determine a rep team for South Coast Rugby.

I played in the North team and was put into halfback as no others halfs turned up.I was only playing to get much needed match fitness as we have had a stop start to the season.To my surprise i actually got picked in the side after having a great game, scoring a try and setting another up.Not a bad effort for me at my tender age of 39.Thought my days of rep rugby were over.Oh well you just never know.

The mighty Batemans Bay Boars play Braidwood at home this weekend, should be a good hit out.

 

[Pfitzy]

Nice work Boarman! :thumb No substitute for experience

I just noticed Subbies got our result the wrong way round. Hopefully they don't fix it before next Saturday so Liverpool think we're softies

 

[Pfitzy]

Well our Seconds got run over by Liverpool's array of cuzzy bro's today. Basically our game plan (hit it up in close) was nonexistent as a new lineup failed to get down to basics. We went down in a heap 38-5. I scrummed well at loosehead, snapping two of their tight heads before they settled on a big Tongan-looking bloke who was not quite as easy to push around but I still gave him grief and they never got near our ball. Early on they tried to step left and illegally wheel us which broke down when I told the ref about it and he started to ping them.

Firsts finished strongly, from 10-3 at halftime to 35-3 at fulltime.

[edit] I remember now that our scrum was going so well we got two 90-degree turnovers and a genuine tighthead. Our lineout stole at least three of their throws. Shame we couldn't hold our work around the field better or it would have been interesting.

 

[boarman]

Well we must of had a get out of jail free card today as we beat Braidwood 26-21.We jumped out of the blocks and led 19-0 after 10 mins but then we deviated from the game plan and tried to score from every touch. Ill discipline and poor defence allowed Braidwood to post a couple of tries and we went to the break leading 19-14.
The 2nd half began the same as the 1st ended with missed tackles, poor decision making and giving the opposition too many penalties, as a result we spent the 1st 20 mins of the 2nd half pinned in our own 22 metre line, luckily they only scored 1 converted try, but we were now behind 21-19 with 15 mins to go.
To our credit the boys stuck with it and as a result their scumhalf was pressured into passing over their tryline which we pounced on to score, conversion good and we led 26-21.
We must improve our discipline, one on one defence and have patience and get back to the rugby we played 2 weeks ago.
But a win is a win and full credit must go to the way we actually defended in the 2nd half by only allowing that 1 try when weight of possession should of given them at least 3 tries.

Big game coming up this weekend against the Bombala Blue Tongues.This is the first year they have been in the comp but early results are proving they will be tough opposition.

Stay posted for news from South Coast Rugby.

 

[Pfitzy]

We must improve our discipline, one on one defence and have patience and get back to the rugby we played 2 weeks ago.

Sounds exactly like our Second Grade! Well done boarman - a win's a win, and even better if it reinforces some hard-learned lessons.

 

[Scarfman]

... the boys stuck with it ...

... a win is a win ...

... full credit ...

Nice match report Boarman. You should get a job as the Waratahs media officer to stop them saying stupid things. For mine, the below is exactly what you should be saying to the troops every week, instead of stuff like how many points you'll need to get into the finals.

Big game coming up this weekend against the Bombala Blue Tongues.This is the first year they have been in the comp but early results are proving they will be tough opposition.

P.S. Have you ever read "This is the South Coast News and I'm Paul Murphy" (Vol I, II, and III) by Roy Slaven? I read it every couple of years or so. I think you'd enjoy it.

 

[boarman]

No i havent read it, cant actually say that i have heard of it.I might see if i can find it somewhere.

Thanks on the nice remarks .

 

[Scarfman]

Vol I http://www.amazon.com/This-South-Co...=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241351907&Super Rugby=1-25

Vol II http://www.amazon.com/This-South-Co...=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241351907&Super Rugby=1-28

Vol III http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...e=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241351945&Super Rugby=1-1

Assuming you've heard of Roy Slaven, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Pfitzy]

Fitness session tonight. Only about 12 blokes showed up which is bollocks but we went hard at it. My abs are going to be sore tomorrow. Will make sure I'm at Thursday training so that I can keep my starting spot against Sydney Harlequins.

They're a team we haven't had a lot of trouble against in Second Grade, but their performance really depends on who shows up. Its a home game for us, so we should have an advantage - especially at scrum time where their less-experienced blokes will be under a bit of pressure. We just need to make sure we play the right game plan.

Some new youngsters turned up at training tonight who are mates of our gun new scrumhalf Moses. One of these kids is a real nugget and can also hit a mark with a pass from 25m away.

 

[Pfitzy]

Renegades turned in two good performances today, winning 33-24 in Firsts and 45-nil in Seconds. The First Grade game was tough and the lead changed hands several times, as you'd expect with last year's grand finalists playing. Unfortunately we lost a couple of blokes to injury during the game but you come to expect that against a team who are pretty hard-core and know their rugby. I got on for about 3 minutes when we had a blood replacement. I can handle a lot of First Grade THPs but the pack mentality of the Harlequins boys is just too good for me.

At this point I'd like to point out that the ref for First Grade was a complete an utter in-love-with-myself type of a raving cockmuncher. He missed perfectly obvious things right in front of him that most humans could spot from 20m away, and made several key errors in favour of Harlequins, which he then kind of reversed by giving us a few freebies. What I want to know is, if one of our blokes can get a yellow for being aggressive at a ruck, then how many offside penalties in the opponent's red zone can they give away before getting away with the same treatment? Knob.

Seconds we started kind of slow but then really hit it up the guts and started to make serious metres. It was 21-nil at halftime and only through them knocking on a couple of times did we keep a clean sheet. I had a few runs and made some metres, and generally was better than the poo I served up against Liverpool. But Harlequins went early in the first scrum and their LHP fucked his arm on contact. That was the end of contested scrums Our lineout was fairly dominant though and with all the extra energy to run around we contained them very well. Bit disjointed in defence but we hit pretty hard.

 

[boarman]

Well what a torrid affair on Saturday.
The Bateman's Bay Boars took on the Bombala Blue Tongues at the pigpen in a top of the table affair, both teams undefeated with the Blue Tongues being only 1 point ahead from bonus points.

The size of the Bombala team was imposing with several Maori's but they didnt look to fit.We knew if we could stick with them in the early patches then our game plan would kick into gear.

The opening of the game saw the 2 packs sort themselves out, with the big Bombala pack up against the smaller and more mobile Boars pack.With more numbers to the breakdown the Boars slightly gained the ascendancy and were in great attacking positions only for a dropped ball on the Bombala line saw them get an intercept and score a length of the field try to lead 7-0 after about 20 mins.The next 15 mins was a real arm wrestle with play being played in between the two 22 metre lines.Then after 6 phases of play the Boars pressed hard on their line and were rewarded with a try from a great backline movement, the easy conversion was missed by myself and the halftime score remained 7-5 in favour of the Bombala side.

Our coach wasn't that worried as we had the better half and the key areas of discipline, defence and patience were addressed.

The 2nd half began the same as the first with the forwards trying to gain control of each other and slowly the Boars fitness began to get the better of the big Bombala boys.With good clean ball being recycled faster by the Boars it wasnt long before the backs found space and we posted 2 quick tries to lead 17-7 .
It was at this stage our coach decided to make some changes and he brought on the fastest player in the competition but despite his age of only 17 he stood up and scored 2 tries in the final 10 mins , coming on the end of some good work by firstly our outside centre making a break of 40 metres to hand off to young Max to score under the posts, the next try resulted from a 30 metre break from me at fullback , linking up with the inside centre then again to Max to score his 2nd under the posts.

At the end of 80 mins we triumphed 31-7 to get a bonus point and take over the lead on the ladder.Its only still early days but if we can produce this form week in , week out then we have the team to win the comp.A great all round effort and full credit for sticking to our gameplan, our defence was 100 % better than last week and although we still gave away stupid penalties and free kicks it was also an improvement.

Next week we are on the road to Bermagui for a rematch of last years grand final, This looks to be another tough game and we will have to be on our toes for them.

Stay tuned for more reports on south coast rugby.

Other results were
Braidwood defeated Narooma 53-0 at Braidwood

Milton defeated Broulee 7-5 at Broulee

 

[cyclopath]

Great report Boarman. Go the distance. Interested in this comp as I work 3 days every fortnight in Nowra.
By the way, how did Milton and Narooma get in the comp? I mean every other team seems to start with B! ;D

 

[Scarfman]

Speaking of, I was holidaying at Bermagui in the Easter break and saw half a game of rugby. Seemed to be the blue and white hoops vs the black and white hoops. What surprised me was (1) last time I was in the 'gui there was no rugby team, just AFL, and (2) at least half the players were of Pacific Island origin.

 

[cyclopath]

Speaking of, I was holidaying at Bermagui in the Easter break and saw half a game of rugby. Seemed to be the blue and white hoops vs the black and white hoops. What surprised me was (1) last time I was in the 'gui there was no rugby team, just AFL, and (2) at least half the players were of Pacific Island origin.

Mate of mine grew up down near Tuross, played a lot of rugby up till about 18-19 years old, and said half the teams were usually Islanders or Maori - and this was 15 years or more ago.
He said the scariest part was when they would beat the crap out of each other at training!! ;D

 

[the gambler]

what surprised you about 2? The fact half were or that half werent?

In my game on Saturday it was the first time in my 5 years of subbies that neither side had a Jonah (from Summer Heights High, not Lomu). Sydney subbies rugby would be dead without the support of the Polynesian, Islander, Maori communities.

 

[Scarfman]

Surprised, because I've been visiting the 'gui for 10 years and hadn't noticed the Poly population. Mostly white blokes with big beards and guts. Fishing is thirsty work.

 

[boarman]

The blue and white hoops were Bermagui, but im not sure of who the black and white hoops would of been.Milton were black and white last year but the playing jersey wasnt hooped.
There were a few islanders playing as the Horseshoe hotel in Bermigui was run by some of them.The islander rugby population is slowly growing but not enough im afraid, we need more of their influence.On the other hand , at our knock out earlier in the year we had teams from Canberra come down and the Royals club had at least 15 islanders out of their squad of 20, the other Canberra clubs were well represented in that department too.

As for 15 odd years ago the 1 club that had islanders would of been Broulee, but this year they have none.Our club the Boars only has the two Maoris.
Have heard on the grapevine though that Milton has a Japanese player and seems pretty handy(probably plays that kamikaze style ).

 

[Pfitzy]

Played half a game for Seconds yesterday against the lads from Notre Dame Uni at their very shitty home ground of Wentworth Park (outer). I got subbed at halftime because they wanted to give another bloke a run... or maybe it was the fact I was walking between rucks Had my eyes on a try when the halfback (who usually plays back row - we were real short of numbers) ignored me and our large #8 (both of us marked only by 1 very small fullback) on the open side and threw it blindside to the flyhalf who ran at 6 of their biggest blokes. : We had a very strong wind with us in the first half I might add and the backs used the boot well - for a change.

We dominated the scrum from the word go as I predicted we would - but at least the ND boys stuck to their guns and didn't wimp out like some fuckers do at scrum time - they got belted every time and they kept turning up for more. When we punched it up in close the (generally) smaller opposition had no answer. Why the fuck the backs even got the ball is a mystery - this is Second Grade! Bonus point wrapped up at halftime, and then 34-nil and though NDU had their chances to get on the scoresheet and their handling failed at critical times. I had a few runs and made some nice yardage, but then you know the opposition is pretty soft when that happens 8)

First Grade was a bit scrappier - we only just had enough for a run-on team (about the 4th different lineup we've had this year), and the bench was me, the Coach and another bloke (both second row) in the forwards, and one back - who had to go on at the 25 minute mark! I had to go on at hooker in the last few minutes because our outside centre got crocked, and the starting hooker (and captain) went to the back row. That first scrum hurt a lot as it collapsed - all I know is I closed my eyes and felt my forehead hit the ground. One tap and a lineout later and it was all over 22-7 to us.

First time in nearly a year that we haven't got a bonus point in First Grade, but it must be pointed out the ref was a blind knob-end and the TJ was a complete fuckwit, single-handedly giving two of our blokes reports for yellow cards where one wasn't even close (the other was probably fair enough). For the second card, this same pair completely missed the opposition player who ran in and threw punches for the supposed spear tackle. Down to 13 men for 6 minutes, they scored - had that not happened it would have been two games where the home side were held to nil.