Riverview v Joeys
by “Lee Grant”
The rain belted down in the second half of the Twos game and one expected the worst for the rest of the day but the rain stopped for a while and though it restarted lightly it was the already muddy field, especially the cricket pitch square, that caused problems.
First half
The visitors accepted two long shots at goal and 10 Connor O’Shea slotted both of them to have Joeys ahead six minutes into the game 6-0.
View’s 10 Jack McGregor ran against the grain from his own half to the drier edge of the field. He scooted deep into the Joeys half and minutes later kicked to the corner too well for Joeys to field the ball cleanly.
Riverview got the throw-in to the lineout and 13 Henry Hutchison was stopped on a straight run with defenders drawn to him. View had numbers out wide and the ball was spun out for 14 Will Terry to score. When McGregor converted with a fine kick from near touch View was in the lead at 15 minutes 7-6.
The piggies belted each other for the remainder of the half with Joeys losing a few lineouts and even getting pinged for a crooked feed to the scrum
When Riverview didn’t want to kick long from their own half they kicked shorter from near halfway which the Joeys’ back three found hard to handle.
At oranges Riverview led 7-6.
Second half
Joeys had a player carded early in the second half and View mauled the ball over from the resulting lineout for 7 Conor Menzies to score. McGregor slotted the extras with another fine kick to increase View’s lead to 14-6.
Joeys caught Riverview napping after the kick-off and 2 James Margan went on a long run before the ball was released to O’Shea to score untouched. He converted his try to recoup the seven points View had scored.
Then from the restart Joeys dropped the ball in their 22 and after it was was swung wide 11 Jake Pirina was in for Riverview.
In a seven minute period View had scored two tries and Joeys, one—13 minutes into the second half Riverview led 19-13.
In certain areas of the field it may have been difficult for attackers to get traction for a step or even for a sudden change-up of speed to beat defenders, but tacklers were finding it difficult to react also if runners were already on the burst.
There followed a period of 30 lads banging heads.
View were kicking the ball into the Joeys 22 and after Joeys dropped one of them LHP Hosea Fotokava was held up over the line by Joeys’ 15 Thomas Wright with a little help from his friends.
But, under advantage, McGregor slotted a penalty goal for the home team to lead 22-13 with about fifteen minutes left in the match.
Then it was Joeys turn to nab View’s ball dropped in the Joeys’ 22 and light-footed Wright ran a semi circle around Riverview tacklers to score near the posts. Joeys were back in the game with the score 22-20 to Riverview.
If Wright’s effort was one of the best individual efforts of the day, wunderkind Hutchison topped it for View when he had three Joeys defenders struggling to lay a hand on him wide out. He stepped in and his lightning speed enabled him to dive over the line with an Ashley-Cooper flourish and his home fans cheering.
Final score: Riverview 29 — Joeys 20
The teams
Both teams were led by a fine flyhalf and had forwards with admirable ticker; but View had the edge in the set pieces.
Riverview were more confident in the conditions and had Joey’s players turning around and racing get to the ball just ahead of View chasers.
When they received challenging kicks View handled them better.
Joeys paid the price for dropping the ball in their own red zone too often after Riverview had put it there for that purpose.
The players
Riverview
3. Jack McGregor (10) – Man-of-the match and a maestro on the muddy field—one suspected he had played on a sticky pitch at Riverview before. He’s not bad in dry conditions either, just quietly.
2. Henry Hutchison (13) – His try at the end of the game was an obvious brilliancy but it was his punishing defence both front-on and from the side that took my eye throughout the match. He also used his pace to defuse a try.
1. Beau Petterson (4) – Takes a point for a non-stop effort for a big lad, and some dominant play—but an honourable mention goes to 8. Jack Hayson.
Joeys
3. Connor O’Shea (10) – Gave his team every chance to win and was not bad in the conditions himself.
2. Thomas Wright (15) – Used his speed to get back to well-placed balls, and his guile to evade chasers and score his try.
1. James Margan (2) – All the forwards played their guts out but Margan set up the try to get his team within a point of View after they had just scored.
The wrap-up
Riverview deserved their win and stay alive to meet Scots in the final round to tie the competition in two weeks’ time; but first they will have to play their best against a resurgent Shore at Northbridge next week.
Joeys have played well in most of the games they couldn’t win and did so again against View; but they have to lift in their last two games against Kings and Newington to salvage something out of their season.
The scoring
Riverview 29 (W. Terry, C. Menzies, J. Pirina, H. Hutchison tries; J. McGregor 3 cons, pen) def. Joeys 20 (T. Wright try, C. O’Shea try, 2 cons, 2 pens)
A special mention is due to Shute Shield referee Mr James Scholtens for his fine performance.
Other scores
Second XV — Shore 24 – Joeys 24
Third XV — Joeys 29 – Riverview 7
Fourth XV — Joeys 12 – Riverview 0
Riverview v Joeys photos by “Lee Grant”
See next page for a report on Newington v Kings
