CAS I v ISA by “George Smith”
CAS I 39 — ISA I 12
The CAS boys seemed determined to show their quality over a hapless ISA team.
The Scoring
CAS opened the scoring with a try to 13. Watson.
Following a seesawing exchange between the two teams ISA scored next with a try to their big lock, Anderson.
Three minutes later CAS 10. Smerdon showed some class with a lovely 15 metre dart that was thwarted with the line beckoning. Soon after CAS 8. Powter picked up the ball from the back of a scrum, fed the ball to 9. Kirkby, who passed to 14. Ellwood-Hall, who scored.
CAS 4. Summerhayes (normally a 6) showed his back-rower’s pace and just missed a try from 22m out. Smerdon was having a good day and scored a try that 15. Jones converted.
Jones then demonstrated his powerful kicking with a huge 45 metre penalty.
Half-time: CAS 22 – ISA 5
But early in the second half Jones botched a sitter of a try when his flashy SBW backhanded pass was ruled forward. But a CAS converted try was scored not long afterwards after a sweeping move from their own 22. CAS 29 – ISA 5
Then came a good period of play by ISA in the CAS half but they could not get over the line.
Watson then scored again for CAS in another sweeping movement confusing an ISA defence which should have done better. The conversion missed: CAS 34-5.
ISA never gave up and their 15. Cotton scored a few minutes later: CAS 34-12.
But CAS had the upper hand and were running freely and their LHP McLean finished the scoring after a power run.
Full time: CAS 39 — ISA 12
The teams
CAS I
Most of the forwards had played together at club or school and it showed. The forwards worked well as a unit and never overplayed their hand trying impress the selectors. They had more commitment to the breakdown, more aggression and more intensity
Five of the seven backs were from the same school (Barker) and they played better than they did against a redoubtable GPS team during the week.
ISA I
ISA showed some vigour but only in patches and they did not take enough advantage of their opportunities. They couldn’t counter the well-organised and tight-playing CAS forwards, who also had more pace and agility. They made too many unforced errors and could not compete in the scrums.
The players
CAS
In the forwards 4. Hugh Summerhayes and 8. Ryan Powter stood out in a very good pack.
However CAS best players were 10. David Smerdon, who was well-served by his Barker team mate 9. Stephen Kirkby, and 15. Harry Jones .
Jones showed a very high level of composure in what he did, but seemed to lack real pace. His kicking skills (off both feet) were excellent. One negative was his persistence with back handed passes (as with many backs in the ARU’s NGS program). As mentioned: one try was bombed after such a pass; otherwise his passing was solid.
ISA
10. Matthew Arnold and 12. Arthur Currie were their best and thwarted many promising runs by their opponents. But their heralded 6. John Walker seemed to struggle and was fortunate to be selected for NSW IIs in my opinion.
The Wrap-Up
CAS demonstrated they were the second best team that played today. They had the size, organisation and skilled players that ISA could not match.
Other Games by “Lee Grant”
There were four other matches earlier in the day
CAS II 77 — AICES 5
The AICES team fought bravely but were always going to struggle after only 24 boys from 87 AICES schools in the state showed up to trial. Some were chosen for NSW Country.
GPS III 50 — CCC 21
GPS scored eight tries to three but it was their only game together in the trials and their defence suffered in the first half when they were not used to each other.
CCC took advantage of that and scored two tries before oranges but they weren’t driving over the ball and just trying to put their hands on it instead.
GPS regressed a bit as the reserves came off the bench but for most of the game they were able to drive up the middle to attract defenders then swing the ball wide to run around defenders who were caught narrow.
ISA II 31 — Country 19
This was a good game of footie with ISA scoring four tries to three.
The first half was an interesting arm wrestle and the score was tied 7-7 at half-time.
ISA “won” the second half 24-12 by sticking to their game plan and overcoming the bigger Country lads who were troubled at scrum time.
GPS II 67 — CHS II 0
GPS scored six tries in the first half and five in the second in a one-sided contest that lacked interest.The main point of the match was the excellent halves pairing of scrumhalf Mitchell Short (Scots) and Andrew Deegan (Joeys) who seemed made for each other. Short sniped a few times but was mainly interested in clearing the ball quickly from the ruck or set piece. Deegan thrived on that service and played like a millionaire.
Both lads got a stint for GPS I in the main game and ended up being selected in for NSW I.
The floodgates opened in the fourth quarter of the game as some CHS boys seemed not to want to tackle, but no fault should be attributed to brave fullback Riley Manwaring of Murrumburrah High School.
See Page 3 to see the selections for the two 2013 NSW Schools teams.
