Exciting game of rugby in the third round of Victoria’s Dewar Shield between the Rams and the ‘ House. Moorabbin wins by 4 holding off a late resurgence from Power House
The Match
Moorabbin won a very important match to prove their play off credentials in the Dewar Shield. The Rams were coming from a 30 points hiding against Harlequins and needed hardly to come back to the winners. Power House, after their convincing away win against Southern Districts, came to win.
The match was in balance up to the last play of the game, with the visitors down by 4 and pushing agains the hosts tryline.
First Half
The game has been dominated early on by Moorabbin, but the home side was’t able to transform their territorial dominance into points, the only two concrete opportunity were wasted: a penalty was kicked way out of from a central position and a possible try on the left corner was voided by a foot in touch.
After spending the best part of the first twenty minutes deep in their own defence, Power House scored the first try in their first visito to the opponent’s 22 with a good movement from their winger Adam Millgat, mimicked five minuets later by his team mate scrumhalf Sean Cressy. The two tries in rapid succession scored by the visitors stunned the home team and Power House was able to cross the line for a third major in the first half and approached the half time with a 17 – 0 lead.
Moorabbin found a crucial try in the dying moments of the first half to close the gap to 12 points and to go to the sheds with an injection of morale.
Brandon Olow scores for the Rams
Second Half
Power House started well the second period of the game, slotting a penalty right in front of the posts, but this was their last score of the game.
The home team started injecting new players in all areas and it paid off: Moorabbin re-gained the territorial and ball possession dominance of the early phases of the game, but crucially this time around they were capable to transform them into much needed points.
With the hosts crossing the line in multiple occasions, the lead changed with 10 minutes from the final whistle.
Power House found themselves 4 points behind Moorabbin and a renovated sense of urgency lead them to charge into the hosts 22, where they camped for long time, without any luck.
Sakaria Noa secures a lineout
Moorabbin had to recriminate on several kicks went astray that prevented them to push even further in the opponents half, 0n the contrary the House was wasting balls with some very scrappy final passages that prevented them to go on the scoreboard.
Game Changer
Brandon Olow’s try in the closing play of the first half gave the home side the confidence needed to turn the corner around and come back firing in the second half.
G&GR MOTM
Moorabbin number 8 Sakaria Noa had a fantastic game, his presence around the ruck was constant and deciding. Noa has been a danger in attack as well as a very effective tackler in defence.
Rising Watch
The Rams scrum has been very good all the game, merit to a powerful first row guided by hooker Andrew Barber.
Power House number 14 Niau Puaka has covered three positions during the game: he started on the wing, he moved to the centre and played also as flyhalf, in all three positions was impressive and his versatility that can come handy for NRC’s Melbourne team
The Wrap-up
Kicking errors plagued Moorabbin all the game and made the task more difficult than needed. Power House demonstrated to be a very good contender this year, but lacked continuity in the second half. Where the Rams were deficient with the boot, the ‘House committed too many handling errors.
The Details
Score & Scorers
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Moorabbin 24 (5)
Pen: 0/1
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Pen: 1/1
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Cards & citings
none
The Other Matches
In the other three games of the round, Harlequins continued to ravage opponents inflicting a 52 point hiding to Melbourne University in last year Grand Final rematch.
Endeavour Hills upset Footscray in another close match and Box Hill came back from last week’s loss to a comprehensive 43 points demolition of struggling Souther Districts Pirates.
Melbourne University – Harlequins 14 – 66
Footscray – Endeavour Hills 19 – 23
Box Hill – Souther Districts 48 – 5
