Here is a “match on the run” report.
Riverview 22 – Kings 10
by “the fencesitter”
It was a frustrating game out at Parramatta for both sides.
Dropped ball from Kings eventuated in their loss, coupled with a consistently strong attack from the View backs.
Kings saw hope late in the second half when View’s 13 Hutchison was binned for a dangerous tackle, putting on a try to make it 17-10. Hutchison made an impact on his return, setting up a try for View to seal the victory at the whistle.
For Kings, Ballantyne (6), Lehmann (5) and particularly captain McCalman (8), were the standouts: a pack of dogs in defence, shutting down the runs of opposing forwards and pouncing on the pill for turnovers.
Davies (12) also had a strong game for Kings, however he suffered an injury in the second half and had to retire.
For Riverview – Electric centres Molloy (12) and Hutchison (13) worked wonders in the midfield, linking well with Freeman (15) and McKay (11).
In the forwards, Hayson (6) was tireless in both attack and defence showcasing his unparalleled match fitness. View captain, Hunt (8), made a strong return, churning through the defence with strong ball-runing.
[2nd XV Riverview 34 — Kings 29]
Other matches
2nd XV Joeys 29 — Scots 12
Joeys opened the scoring and led 7-0 but Scots replied soon after their no. 8 McIvor got away with running around a blocker to set up the try . Good on them: take what you can get.
But Joeys scored again and went ahead 12-7, which was the score at oranges.
After the break Joeys pressured the Scots line and after they cleared the ball the Joeys’ 14. Matthew Scolari ran it up and passed to 15 Patrick Vaughan at the right moment for the fullback to score in the corner. At seven minutes into the second half Joeys led 17-7.
The next try happened after 10. Connor O’Shea cut back against the grain and scored after struggling to keep his balance following contact. Joeys looked out of sight leading 24-7 with about a quarter of the match to go.
Although Scots responded with a five-pointer, Joeys 9. Pat Curtin finished off the scoring from a scrum set-play near the the Scots’ line, to win 29-12.
Five tries to two was a good measure of superiority of the Joeys’ team.
Joeys scrumhalf, Pat Curtin was the man-of-the-match and made metres just about every time he tried to. He scored a try under the posts after a long run in the first half, and another in the second.
It is a shame that this fine player has to play in the Twos but his rival, Makasini, is in top form also.
16As Joeys 15 — Scots 10
Scots were near the Joeys line, and when defenders were attracted, their fullback threw a Harbour Bridge pass to his THP who was having a bludge on the wing. He sprinted a few metres (make that 50 in a few years’ time) to score. The try was converted and Scots led 7-0 at 10 minutes.
Joeys scored a try later; so Scots lead only by 7-5 at oranges, but the flubbed conversion could prove costly for SJC.
Most of the second half was an arm wrestle and it looked like Scots would get the bikkies, but with four minutes to go Joeys scored in the corner after sustained pressure. The wide conversion missed. Joeys 10-7 — Scots would need a try to win.
Joeys made a mess after receiving the Scots’ restart and were pinged for obstruction. Scots decided there was time for a penalty goal and something else later to win; so they slotted the pressure penalty kick from about 32 metres out to tie the match at 10-10.
But it was Joeys who did the last-ditch scoring. They got the ball back after their restart kick and soon afterwards flyhalf Tom Wright ran diagonally to outflank a compressed Scot’s defence. He scored in the corner to win the match: Joeys 15 — Scots 10.
Wright had an an outstanding game and will bear watching in Opens rugby in the future.
They were two fit and well-coached sides: equal in most departments except discipline, and this cost Scots the game as much as Wright did.
All photos by Lee Grant
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