Joeys v Kings
by “Lee Grant”
Joeys lost their last two matches to the top two sides of the competition and wanted to get back on track.
On the other hand: Kings had won only one game in the First XV competition, but had high hopes to get a second because the wet weather and soft ground had evened out a lot of matches in the last few weeks.
First half
Joeys were rampant after the kick-off though dropping a couple of balls; but when they got a penalty handy to the sticks they caught Kings napping with a tap kick and 10 Connor O”Shea strolled over their goal line to score untouched. He converted the try and Joeys led 7-0 in the third minute.
Kings elected to kick into the Joeys half against the breeze but couldn’t stop the home team running the ball back. After 12 Will O’Donnell received a good ball from O’Shea he ran straight, drew the last tackler and passed to 13 Tim McCutcheon who scored near the corner. There were no extras and Joeys lead 12-0 after 13 minutes.
It took 15 minutes for Kings to get the ball in their opponent’s half but bad handling spoiled a good try-scoring chance. Joeys raided back into the visitor’s half and the referee had to warn Kings about their frequent infringements.
O’Shea set up a five-metre lineout with a penalty kick into touch and soon 2 James Margan crashed the ball up. From the ruck 9 Nicholas Duffy darted over the goal line to score. O’Shea converted the try and at 16 minutes it looked like one-way traffic because Joeys were leading 19-0.
Then Kings started to play and when Joeys mishandled the restart kick 9 Dan Macqueen kicked the ball through and won the race to ground the ball. When 15 Chris Orpen converted the try the score was 19-7 to Joeys.
It was all Kings for the rest of the half despite losing one of their players to the bin. They discounted their disadvantage of being a man short by taking time to slot two penalty goals from Orpen’s boot.
At the break Joeys were ahead 19-13.
Second half
It was even in the third quarter of the game as both sides had trouble holding onto the ball under pressure—and both lost a man to the bin.
Then came a game-breaker from Joeys as the passes stuck. McCutcheon surged though a gap in the defensive line before drawing the last defender and dishing the ball to his fullback Tim Wright. He outpaced his opponents wide out and rounded to score between the posts. When O’Shea converted the score was 26-13 to Joeys with 15 minutes remaining.
The home team got deep into Kings’ territory later and from a scrum O’Shea passed long to McDonnell running straight for a gap. He found no defenders and scored between the posts. Joeys looked likely to win now leading 33-13 with only eleven minutes left.
Kings wouldn’t give up though and when they had a lineout set up by a penalty kick for touch, they peppered the Joeys’ goal line and LHP James King scored a try for Orpen to convert.
There were still eight minutes left but despite a couple of brilliant efforts from Wright for the home team there was no more scoring and Joeys were deserved winners 33-20.
The teams
Joeys scored five tries to two and set up their win by jumping out to a 19-0 lead at a rate of about a point a minute. Their forwards had more penetration with pick and goes, and their halves and centres had more good moments in the match.
Kings’ plan of kicking the ball into the Joeys’ half in the first quarter of the game back-fired because Joeys returned the ball in hand too well. Although Kings scored 20 points to 14 after Joeys got their big lead they lacked game breakers to make up all of the opening deficit.
The players
Joeys
3. James Margan (2) – The man of the match didn’t throw the ball to the lineout but he was in the middle of the front row in the scrums and trucked the ball up all day. He was always available for an inside pass and it would be interesting to know what his run metres were.
2. and 1. The remaining points go to the centre pairing of 12. Will McDonnell and 13. Tim McCutcheon. Although a bit of wet ball was dropped in the midfield they had their best games of the season and were a constant danger.
Kings
3. Daniel Macqueen (9) – Did not suffer by comparison with Aussie Schoolboys’ half Nicholas Duffy, who was no slouch himself on the day for Joeys.
2. David Ballantyne (8) – Good ball running and a tackling machine.
1. George Lehmann (6) – Same remarks as for Ballantyne. These two fellows had to carry a bigger load than their counterparts in Joeys had to, and they did it with relish.
The wrap-up
Joeys can go into their final game of the year against Newington (at home) with some confidence now.
Kings unfortunately have the dreaded “wooden spoon” for 2014 but they will have to pick themselves up to get their second win of the season in their final game, against Shore.
The scoring
Joeys 33 (T. McCutcheon, N. Duffy, T. Wright , W. McDonnell tries; C. O’Shea try, 4 cons) def. Kings 20 (D. Macqueen, J. King tries, C. Orpen 2 pen, 2 cons).
Other scores
2nd XV — Joeys 19 – Kings 14
3rd XV — Joeys 14 – Kings 12
Photos Joeys v. Kings by Lee Grant
See next page for report on Newington v Scots
