Match report - BGS vs ACGS
Interesting game at Churchie today, not sure whether BGS played bad or ACGS played well but penalties were plenty. 5 minutes in, a penalty kick was taken by the grammar captain, #10 Sam Greene, ~47m out and 5m in from the sideline. Just making the distance and taking the initial pressure off BGS. This is a usual pattern I have seen were any team that makes an error inside their 50, Grammar have been sure to capitalise.
As the half went on, Churchie looking deadly in the backs but the Grammar defence was impenetrable. The BGS forwards delievering some crushing runs and tackles surely hindered the moral of ACGS. A yellow card was given to Greene 5 minutes from half time, not sure why, can anyone fill me in here? Churchie wasn't able to score any points off this, leaving the half time score 9-6 to BGS.
The 2nd half allowed Greene to kick his 4th penalty in the first few minutes, the shoe of Greene quickly becoming Grammars path to victory it was obvious Churchie were doing what ever they could to take him out of the game.
A heavy statement but surely those late tackles didn't happen to target Greene just by chance? Yes he was kicking the ball but you would believe 1st XV players would go for the charge down and not the player.
A massive late tackle by Churchie captain, #10 Darcy Eason, on Greene left im down injured allowing churchie to run the ball right through the defence of Grammar and score. Neither touchies or the Ref paid any attention to the late tackle nor the previous few that happened in the first half. Try converted with 10-15 left on the clock left BGS on the back foot trailing by 1, they spent the next minutes making desperate attempts at the tryline, which eventually paid off in the usual fashion of a pick and drive off the back of a ruck.
Greene missed his only kick of the game from a difficult angle leaving the score 13-17.
A large amount of injury time was added to the game going 8 minutes past the 70 minutes mark on the scoreboard, nice to see the Ref time the match by his watch and not a schoolboy behind a window in a room...
Grammar took their time winding down the time, scoring another penalty off the boot of Greene.
Eventually the ball found touch ending the game 20-13
Standout players being
#2 Alistair Harper
#5 Ben Muller
#8 Cornelson
#10 Green
#12? Lakehm Aiono
#13? Joshua Birch
#14 Hugo Starr-Thomas - Who went down a few times during the game but still managed to playon
From ACGS -
#2 unknown
#11 Monty Ioane
#14 Sam Hyne
P.S. It was topic of conversation a week or two ago that the days of silence when a kick was taken were over, the general consensus was that they were. Which i totally disagreed with btw, i never knew where the opinions that were opposite to mine were coming from until today. The first kick of the day the parents were unaware of procedures as it took sometime for them to pipe down. The 2nd kick they were fine, Churchie however, were not. Calling out obscenities seconds before a game changing kick was taken is absolutly appaling. This happened once or twice more where i suppose a teacher told them off? Either way, the student body should be punished for this and I hope they are truly sorry for their actions as supporters today.
Looks like NC TSS and BGS are the three schools left with a shot at the title. BGS vs TSS in round 7 and BGS vs NC in round 9 are sure to be the deciders. Which ever of those teams stays undefeated in the last 3 games will be sure to win. There is chance for those 3 teams to all lose one match however, leaving it in a 4/5 way tie.
Current Points standings after today.
1 NC - 10 - bye to come
2 IGS - 8 - bye to come
2 BGS - 8
2 TSS - 8
5 TGS - 6
6 BBC - 3
7 GT - 2
7 BSHS - 2 - bye to come
9 ACGS - 1