Newington v Joeys
by “Lee Grant”
For the first time in years Joeys were favorites against Newington. They had a good win against Kings the previous week and Newington had gone down to Scots 101-0.
Like every game in Sydney on Saturday afternoon the team that used the southerly wind better—or countered it better by running more and using short passes— prospered.
I have the exact details of the scoring moves in my notebook, which is somewhere in ANZ Stadium – no doubt thrown up in the air when Bernard Foley kicked that goal from near halfway for the Waratahs.
But here are my general impressions of the game that I can remember with a hangover:
• Newington used the wind better and there were more raking kicks by them to advantage in the second half than by Joeys in the first.
• Joeys had trouble containing the midfield of 12 Latu Latunipulu and 13 Sepesa Loga-Tarogi. Nearly every time Latunipulu got the ball he made dominant runs.
• Newington forwards were more imposing than their opponents especially at scrumtime but the boys from Hunters Hill made up for it by work-rate.
• LHP Melie Laimani had several bruising runs for the home team and was difficult for Joeys to stop.
• Joeys had episodes without a well-set defensive line. Newington flyhalf Cameron Murray scored a try virtually untouched and Latu Latunipulu scored one try almost escorted by Joeys’ defenders running beside him.
• Once 10 Connor O’Shea of Joeys kicked neatly against the wind to beat the rush defence; the ball was recovered nicely and passed to new fullback Tim Clements who rounded to score.
• Five tries to four and a scoreline of 31-22 to Newington was a fair reflection of the merits of the two teams.
The Players
Newington
3. Latu Latinupulu – (12) made ground on must carries and scored two tries.
2. Melie Laimani – (1) a good substitute for the injured Vunipola Fifita and bowled over tacklers.
1. Simon Kennewell – (15) made several long runs threading through gaps
Joeys
3. Connor O’Shea – (10) in rich vein of form and playing to his Aus Schools selection.
2. Nick Duffy – (9) best game this year because he ran with the ball more and stopped the drift.
1. Tim Clements – (15) another elusive game subbing for Wright.
The scoring
Newington 31 (L. Latunipulu 2, C. Clifford, B. Simonsson, C. Murray tries; Latunipulu 2, B. Simmonson cons) beat Joeys 22 (W. McCutcheon, C. O’Shea, T. Clements, J. Margan; O’Shea con)
Photos on this page by Lee Grant
