Eastwood match reports from last week v parramatta at Merrylands.
Colts 1
On a pleasant afternoon last Saturday 18th April Eastwood 1st Grade Colts team ventured down to Granville Park now named Merrylands RSL Park. Commonly known as Death Valley for us older players, coaches and spectators to match ourselves against the old enemy, Parramatta Two Blues.
A match that was very frustrating right from the outset. Parramatta set about frustrating us and putting pressure on us by pushing the advantage line, swamping the breakdown and using the blind at every opportunity. We didn't react quickly enough to some of their attacking plays.
Clearly the better team we never found ourselves getting out of, at best 2nd gear.
Our basic skills of catch and pass struggled as passes didn't stick and players took poor options. Inconsistencies our achilles heel at present. > As coach Walsh had stated at training during the week, this was going to be a match in which it would be a won by a difference to either team of no more than seven points. For his clairvoyant skills he was correct to the digit.
We didn't take our opportunities and put pressure on ourselves by playing catch up football for the majority of the match. To the positive, there were parts of the match where Eastwood certainly showed some entertaining football. It was good solid play particularly when players switched on and ran a few unders lines and straightened play up. Our ability to counter and seize on our oppositions mistakes was of a high standard. We need to see more of that week in, week out!
At crucial times during the match, 50/50 passes were pushed, when they didn't need to be thrown and for long periods we played the match in our own half.
To our oppositions credit they used their strength of a big pack of forwards to their advantage and this wore us down. In the first half our line-out kept us in the match both in attack and defence. Parramatta flooded
the breakdown and forced us to make numerous tackles and I would think in reflection 2 or 3 times the amount of tackles to the total we made on the day. This crucial fact was probably the difference between the two teams as on a number of occasions the opposition were able to worked the play to middle of the field before using the blind. Each time valuable metres were gained by Parramatta. This control of possession told in the end.
As the game wore on there were replacements made by Eastwood with a number players getting their first run in 1st Grade Colts. match for the season. The replacements included Jackson Unmack, Matt Bartholomew, Zac Simpson, Lachlan Croese, Will McManus, Liam Northbridge and Zac Heron. This addition in fresh players added enthusiasm and urgency in our play lifting the Woodies performance. > We swept in for a great team try during this period. Then there was a > period of 10 minutes when we were solid on attack. Then unfortunately one of our replacements Jackson Unmack was hurt suffering an injury to his leg.This injury caused a 4 or 5 minute stoppage in play. The momentum was lost and so the match.
Again so bloody close.
This week saw us improving across the park. Another victory is not far away!
We will continue to evaluate our processes, training schedule, methods and work on our basic skills of catch and pass, tackle technique and defensive patterns as we aim to improve.
Gents Hang in there!!!
Practice, practice, practice
Best and Fairest
3. Mark Quadrio
2. Joshua Nohra
1. Lachlan Burland
Colts 2
Eastwood 12- Parramatta 24
2nds took the field knowing vital points were on offer, with 2 from 4, and the only chance to take points from Parramatta in the competition round. From the whistle, 2nds were able to apply pressure, and by the 5 minute mark had managed to get the ball over the line 3 times, without achieving vital ball grounding. As the game unfolded, whilst hit ups were gaining valuable metres, Lachlan Croese executed a deft kick over the Parra defensive line which Cameron Daniels seized upon and beat the last Parra defenders to cross over for another well-deserved try, Woods 7-0. Just prior to the break, the Parra pick and drive machine, broke through, half time 7-7.
The second half saw the game deteriorate to each side matching capability in scrappy play. Infringements at the wrong end of the field allowed Parramatta to capitalise on at times, Woods loose defence around our try line, Woods 7-21. 2nds similarly counted off the back of Parra infringements, and quick thinking from Jordan Gillespie, found Sam McCaffrey who outpaced the Parra defence, Woods 12-21.
The last 5 minutes were the game low point, error rate went up, wrong field position, continued infringements and the 2nd yellow card for the day allowed Parra to take the points, closing with a PG in front.
Woods try scorers – Cameron Daniels, Sam McCaffrey
Conversions – Lachlan Croese (2)
B&F Points
3 Jordan Gillespie
2 Sam McCaffrey
1 Nareg Nazarian
Players Player – Lachlan Croese
Special thanks to Stephen Daniels who kindly assisted as 2nds Manager for the day.
Colts 3
Eastwood 33 defeated Parramatta 22
This week was another major step forward, with too many players to squeeze onto the bench, meaning several good club men missed out on a game. So again we used the full allotment of 25 players and we secured our second successive bonus point victory. We asserted our superiority quite early and never looked like surrendering the lead, but the Parra boys kept coming at us with large, powerful human beings who were very difficult to stop; so we had a pretty tough test and passed with credit.
Flanker Nathan Watson raced in from a lineout 30 metres out and Number 8 Daniel Ryan also scored in a game in which he excelled in the tight play and had a tremendous workrate. Lock Tim Anstee won Players’ Player for his non-stop effort and was instrumental in his own try by handling three times and making a telling break in the lead-up. This was undoubtedly the team’s try of the season so far, with many players handling and impressive support play. The other outstanding feature of forward play was the scrummaging, in which all players exhibited excellent technique and outscrummed their much bigger opponents.
In the backs, centre Tom Graham turned in his usual all-round display and winger Tom Koodrin was sharp and incisive with a large number of involvements. He scored a try and set one up for his mate Jonas Williams at 13.
Whilst the defence was brittle at times and requires much more structure and toughness, it was a mostly improved performance and this squad of players is starting to develop much more confidence, spirit and consistency.
Nathan Watson, Daniel Ryan, Tim Anstee, Jonas Williams, Tom Koodrin Tries, Ryan Jensen 4 Goals.
