Joeys v Kings
by “Lee Grant”
This could be a banana-skin game for Joeys because Kings had a good win last week against Riverview, and Joeys were without their two Australian Schools reps.
Tom Wright, who ran rings around Kings, scoring three tries and setting up others when they walloped Kings in Round 4, had undergone a knee operation, and forward leader Tom Horton suffered a concussion against Newington.
First half
Joeys started with a couple of dropsies and Kings camped inside the Joeys’ 22 for ten minutes but lacked the game breakers to score.
Joeys were worse when they got the ball. Poor passing and catching—and some ball-hogging as well—kept them out of the Kings’ 22.
Things deteriorated further when they lost their third captain for the year: big-engined 7 Lachlan Simpson. Full marks to Kings’ 14 Chris Orpen for coming over to Simpson to show his concern and console him.
It was looking to be a downer of a game, but Joeys clicked at last when one of their favourite moves, the inside ball to 6 Dom McGrath, worked. He burst through before dishing to hooker Will Anderson, who ran 20 metres to score under the crossbar.
The extras by scrumhalf Will Wennerbom made the score 7-0 with ten minutes left in the half. It was good to see some rugby break out—and then Joeys scored one of the best tries of the season.
Fullback Tim Clements dished the pill to winger Yirrbi Jaffer-Williams near his own 22. He dodged inside before passing to Wennerbom near half-way; then Clements, backing up, got the ball near touch, and running full-pelt he kicked ahead (silly bugger), but no, he wasn’t—he regathered the bouncing ball and scored a try he had started 80 metres earlier.
The Joe Boys had scored two tries in two minutes, and after Kings blew one, they were in again starting when lock Will O’Donnell poached lineout ball. Several hands moved it to the other side and Jaffer-Williams, who had been involved earlier in the phases, reached up to take a lobbed ball which he caught at pace to score wide out. The extras were added.
Half time score: Joeys 21 – Kings 0
Second half
Joeys had scored three tries in ten minutes before the break and they scored another five minutes after play restarted. Kings dropped the ball heading north and Jaffer-Williams picked it up and headed 40 metres south.
Behind 0-28, Kings looked down and out but that’s when they started playing their best rugby. After a not-straight lineout throw by Joeys, 10 Daniel Poletto kicked the ball into space on the blindside. Kings recovered the ball and winger Chris Orpen scored Kings’ first try, which he converted.
Then brother 12 Matthew Orpen scored; the Kings’ Men were on fire and the brothers had scored twelve points in five minutes. The scoreboard read Joeys 28-12; lots of time left—about 20 minutes.
Joeys’ discipline was poor now and the ref had been penalising their scrum as part of that. Their loose head prop got carded for a scrum infringement and 3 Harry Chapman barged over soon after for Kings—Joeys 28-17.
Joeys were looking like Brown’s cows and were ripe for putting away, but their big lock Nathan Gittoes launched a trademark run, skittling tacklers to gain ground. Then 10 Nicholas Wilkinson hoofed a long kick-pass to Jaffer-Williams, who did well to drag the ball down and score his hat trick, wide out. Wennerbom converted well.
That try, with six minutes remaining, clinched the game, though the second Chapman try just before the end was some consolation for Kings.
Full time score: Joeys 35 – Kings 24
The players
Kings
3 points: THP Harrison Chapman – superb in a straight line; running or tackling. Scored two tries close in.
2 points: 9 Louis Heaton – under-rated scrummie; has best pass in the competition.
1 point: Matthew Orpen – class winger who should have got the ball more.
Joeys
3 points: 14 Yirrbi Jaffer-Williams – had the magic touch with three tries; always elusive.
2 points: Fullback Tim Clements – having a brilliant season; his try was a peach.
1 point: Hooker Will Anderson – a fine all-round game; his best of the year.
The wrap-up
Kings will rue their poor first half when they couldn’t get going, nor deal with the breakouts that Joeys dished up. They showed their best in the second half, but giving Joeys a 28 point lead was too generous.
Their scrum was superior and their strategic kicking in the second half bore fruit, but they were too late to reconfigure their defence when Joeys were on the move.
Joeys didn’t have their finest performance, but winning ugly was still winning. The goal-kicking of scrummie Will Wennerbom was first-rate and gave Joeys a cushion.
They stuttered often but although Kings came within eleven points with 17 minutes left, they also rose on enough occasions for the game to be safe—and they scored a try that took one’s breath away.
Scoring
Joeys 35 (Y. Jaffer-Williams 3, W. Anderson, T. Clements tries; W. Wennerbom 5 cons) def. Kings 24 (H. Chapman 2, C. Orpen, M. Orpen tries; C. Orpen 2 cons)
Other scores
2nd XV – Kings 27 – Joeys 21
3rd XV – Joeys 76 – Kings 0
16A – Joeys 16 – Kings 7 (unofficial)
Photos of Joeys v Kings by “Lee Grant”
Click on Page 3 below for report on Shore v Newington by “rugbycheersquad”
