Shore v Newington
by “rugbycheersquad”
The teams took the field, formalities were observed and it was time to play.
First half
Messy to start. Newington smartened themselves up and were threatening on the attack with some big hits, good runs and smart offloads. New’s Piroddi took a run but unfortunately knocked-on close to the try line, resulting in a scrum ending in a relieving penalty against New for pushing too early.
Shore line out throw, won and passed out wide. Shore’s Suttor carried a few New boys with him followed by Patrick taking a run. A turnover to Piroddi, finding Helu who required the attention of a few Shore players to get him down. The turnover was reversed after a forward pass. Shore elected to go for goal after a penalty for having hands in the ruck. The attempt was unsuccessful.
Newington penalised for high tackle near halfway. Fantastic break by Shore’s Wallace after a show and go. Good defence by New stopped the attacking raid. Shore’s Finlay tried to take a gap but was collected by two new players, referee calls the tackle high and Rory Suttor is over for Shore; unconverted. 5-0.
Newington’s Duvall and Atiola combine, with Atiola carrying three other players across the line to score. Simmonson converts, making the score at 7-5 in the twentieth minute.
Play resumes and Lawson was over. The conversion was missed: Newington 12-5.
Another messy passage of play followed, ending with a penalty against T Atiola for holding on. Good work at breakdown by New’s Piroddi forced a turnover. Newington was lucky to get away with a pass which looked forward. New’s Lawson scores after a 40 metre run. At 31 minutes in. Newington leads 17-5.
At this point Shore is in control. Shore’s Hedge tries a grubber kick which is picked up by New’s Lawson who is hotly pursued by Shore’s Sheehan, but evades to score his third. Converted by Taukamo for 24-5.
Again some back and forth play, some good combinations and breaks result in Long securing another try for Newington.
Half time score: Newington 29 – Shore 5.
Second half
New’s Lawson, who scored a hat trick in the first half, looked to be in a bit of trouble at half time and was replaced by 19 Isi Halaufa. Play resumes. Newington appears to be determined to avoid their second half concentration hoodoo. However there is a bit of mixed play culminating in New’s Piroddi knocking on trying to push the pass.
Scrum work is good from Newington, however Shore has the ball. Another attempt at a grubber kick to no purpose. The next lineout is won by Shore off a Newington throw.
Some good progress by Newington, but Shore’s Kennedy made a break and got half way down the field. Good counter-ruck by Loga-Tarogi contributes to an eventual try by Taukamo. 14 minutes into second half the score is 34-5
Newington’s Taukamo is looking dangerous and difficult to contain. However his style is cramped with required treatment to a scalp wound. No. 20, Kenn Savvas replaces him for a time. Shore’s Allan looking like he might score, but is wrapped up by a determined Murray.
Newington’s Loga-Tarogi is given an able assist by Taukamo and goes over to score. 41-5.
Minutes later, Taukamo is cleaned up, bandaged and back on. Meanwhile the injury woes continue with Shore’s Edwards receiving treatment on field. Meanwhile New’s Robbie Wilson, wearing no. 18 takes the field to replace Helu.
Newington’s Loga-Tarogi executes a half-run/half-dance to make some ground on the far side of the field, and the ball is fed back to the grandstand side. Shore defence is dogged as New continually pressures the line.
Suddenly there is an intercept by Shore’s Cudmore. Solo try and he backed himself enough to make for under the dot. Cameron Murray almost got him, but Cudmore had just enough petrol in the tank. Gutsy. Score at 41-12.
Piroddi goes off, replaced by 16 Sydney Malifa. Fantastic sequence between New’s Mitchell and Taukamo results in Simmonson stepping off his left foot and gliding over to score. 48-12.
New pushes on the scrum but ultimately penalised as Clifford was deemed to have broken off too early. Shore regains control, but receivers are too far back which makes for poor security in the pass and ball lost over the side. Taukamo capitalises with a full field run with try which was converted. Full time score 55-12.
The players
Shore
3 points – Outside Centre Sam Allan. Excellent in defence and proactive in attack
2 points – Hooker Jake Edge, good impact plays.
1 point – No. 8 Fergus Bragg, had a true captain’s knock.
Newington
3 points – Winger Tyrone Taukamo had a screamer of a game. Great runs, great lines and great results.
2 point – Bailey Simmonson at 5/8 did well in his debut in this position in this level.
1 ;point – Campbell Clifford was the one-percenter.
The wrap up
Newington: They played a true 15 man game and succeeded in focussing much better on the entire game, with lapses relating to poorly executed passes.
Shore: Talk of poor coaching needs to stop. A very well drilled team who kept their effort up apart from a short lapse where defence looked momentarily tired in the second half. They stood up well under pressure. Receivers need to stand further forward to avoid pushed passes.
Scoring
Newington 55 (N. Lawson 3, T. Taukamo 2, T. Atiola, M. Long, B. Simonsson, Sepesa Loga-Tarogi tries; B. Simonsson 4, T. Taukamo cons) def. Shore 12 (R. Suttor, H. Cudmore tries; H. Sheehan con)
Photos of Shore v Newington courtesy of “Not in straight” – thank you
