Riverview 33 — Shore 17
by Chris Ng
Both teams were missing key personnel with Shore without tight head Andrew Padrana, lock Paddy Olver, centre Charlie Oldham and full back Nic Clancy while Riverview were missing hooker Hosea Fotukava, number 8 Ben Hunt, half Mike Kennedy, centres Tom Molloy and Henry Hutchison.
The scoring
Riverview kicked off but Shore applied the early pressure courtesy of two penalties in the 4th minute and they swung the ball out wide where a missed one on one tackle in the centres saw Toby Cooke score a try for Shore. The conversion by Jack Clancy hit the posts for a 5-0 lead to the home team.
Riverview replied within 3 minutes when they received a penalty on half way and a good kick found touch ten metres out – from the line out win the ball was transferred wide for centre Charlie McKay to score. Freeman made no mistake with the conversion and Riverview led 7-5.
Riverview doubled their score in the 14th minute when they received a penalty and after a number of phases Conor Menzies broke a tackle running at an angle to score under the posts and it was 14-5.
Unfortunately, in the 17th minute, Shore LHP Hollebon was assisted off by the medi cab with what appeared to be a serious leg injury.
There was some excitment around the 22nd minute mark as Shore (who had the assistance of a seven to four penalty count in the first half) kept play within ten metres of the Riverview try line – but their lack of penetration was evident. (Early in the year Emery and Clancy were the half/fly half combination – so moving out one position had exposed the size of the team.)
There was a turnover of possession and Riverview winger Conor Hurley (Year 10) took off and ran the best part of 60 metres before being put into touch.
Hurley was not to be denied two minutes later as a poor short kick by Clancy was picked up by Riverview 60 metres out which was then thrown wide to the left and Hurley out-sped the defence. Freeman converted the try with an excellent kick , and Riverview were in front 21-5.
A minute later, Clancy somewhat redeemed himself when a Riverview clearing kick was charged down and Clancy picked up the loose ball ten metres out. He dotted the ball down and converted the try, which reduced the Riverview lead to 21-12.
Shore had an opportunity to reduce the margin in the 30th minute when winger Dowsett actually crossed the try line but lost the ball after a simple back line move when he cut back at an angle and beat the defence.
Second half
Riverview received only one penalty in the second half, compared the the seven awarded to Shore – and that came two minutes from full time.
Shore applied all the pressure as they dominated possession but all they did was pass the ball along the back line with no incisive running; so the Riverview defence was rarely threatened – this was the pattern of play in the first 17 minutes with Riverview looking dangerous at times.
In the 18th minute, Shore received a penalty in front of the posts and Clancy hit the uprights for the second time. This time Lady Luck was on Shore’s side – they retained possession and applied pressure so that Dowsett was able to score in the left corner; but Clancy failed to convert – at this stage Riverview led 21-17 but the teams had scored three tries each.
The match turned on its head when Riverview scored two tries in the 27th and 28th minutes.
The first was following a long kick and finding touch ten metres out then winning the lineout and another angle pass saw Menzies scoring his second try.
The second was from the kickoff when Riverview threw the ball to the right and then switched back the other way for Hurley to score his second try for a 33-17 lead.
Gentle giant THP Jack Bowditch (Year 11) was held up in the shadows of full time under the posts, and the next play half Barker was also held up for the match to end in victory to Riverview 33-17.
Riverview — 33
Tries: C.Hurley (2), C. Menzies (2), C. McKay
Conversions: B. Freeman (4)
Shore — 17
Tries: T. Cooke, J. Clancy, M. Dowsett
Conversion: Clancy
Match reports of Round 7 Queensland GPS games can be seen here.
