 Southport at Gregory Terrace (64-14)
HJ Nelson
Green and Gold Rugby wishes to thank HJ Nelson Photography for supplying the images showcased below. For more of HJ’s work from the match, click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/100900132@N02/sets/72157656156766939
It was my first visit to Tennyson since the new grandstand and big screen had been installed. Very impressive. That and the glorious weather set the stage for a great afternoon of rugby watching.
TSS were led out by Angus Allen (7) and GT by Pat Carrigan (5). Both teams had minimal changes from the previous week, with Ball (3) replacing Siggs for TSS, and Eckersley (10) and Pozzi (12) in for Lucas and Ralston respectively.
TSS did not have the start they were looking for, when after 5 minutes Jai Whitbread (12) had to leave the field injured, replaced by 2nd XV winger Carl Gooch (21).
First scoring opportunity was a penalty kick from Lenac (9) for TSS, but it went wide. Shortly after though the replacement Gooch found himself in some space, and after an offload to Lolesio (14), he backed up to score in the corner, after being on the field for 5 minutes. GT 0 – TSS 5
GT then reduced the margin with a penalty to Carrigan. GT 3 – TSS 5. TSS bounced straight back with a try to Allen (7) after another strong run from Gooch. A few minutes later, Gooch was involved again, finishing off an overlap created by Campbell (10) and Riley (13). GT 3 – TSS 15.
GT were not to be out-done though and Pritchard-Malaki (15) made a break-out in his own 22, and was eventually bought down on the opposition 22. From an off-side penalty Kirk (9) and then Forsyth (11) went close to scoring, but the ball went loose, and the referee awarded a 5m attacking scrum to GT. From the scrum the ball was spread wide through Eckersley (10) and Pritchard-Malaki (15) before Eadie (14) scored in the corner.
Half-time – GT 8 TSS 15
Shortly after the restart, GT were penalised for a lifting tackle and from the resulting line-out, Riley ran off a Campbell offload and showed his speed and evasive skills to run 50m and score untouched. This was the start of a remarkable 10 minute period, where TSS scored 4 tries, and put the game out of reach of GT.
From the next restart, Mavoa (6) used his fend, and speed to run 40m, and allow Campbell to crash over a few minutes later. Riley was over untouched again shortly after, finishing off a break from Lolesio (14)
Next, it was Mavoa (6) who crossed after another run from Riley. GT 8 – TSS 39 with 20 minutes gone in the second half.
GT then stemmed the flow of tries with one of their own – scored after a lineout by the front-rower Nasser (3) GT 15 – TSS 39.
Unfortunately for GT, TSS were soon attacking again, and Lenac caught them napping for a try from the back of the ruck. GT 15 – TSS 44. A scuffle in from of the grandstand resulted in a short delay while yellow cards were given to a player from each team. GT were awarded the penalty, but were unable to capitalise with Eadie (14) bundled into touch just short of the try-line. GT had one last chance on the right hand side, but the ball was lost, and Campbell cleared into the GT half. A penalty to TSS followed, and Gooch was able to evade his winger, and cross again for his hat-trick. GT 15 – TSS 49.
With time up, there was just enough time for Riley to make another break and chip ahead, deep into the GT 22. He was unable to cleanly regather the kick, but a turn-over allowed Pere (8) to exploit a size mismatch on the wing, and cross for a try. The try was converted by Sergeant (11), and that was full-time.
A comfortable win to TSS after a close first half. However, there may be a few early morning and lunch-time goal kicking sessions this week, with the TSS kickers only landing 3 from 11 attempts.
TSS 56 (Gooch 3, Riley 2, Allen, Campbell, Mavoa, Lenac, Pere tries; Lenac 2, Sergeant 1 cons) def. Gregory Terrace 15 (Eadie, Nasser tries; Carrigan pen, con)
Teams:
GT
1-Elliot Keefer
2-Oliver Macklin
3-Joshua Nasser
4-Jonathan Clough
5-Pat Carrigan
6-William Beirne
7-Tom Kelly
8-Jack Lutvey
9-Lachie Kirk
10-Joe Eckersley
11-Matt Forsyth
12-Joe Pozzi
13-Ed Burns
14-Will Eadie
15-Quillan Pritchard-Malaki
TSS
1 Dechlan Day
2 Finn McElroy
3 Calum Ball
4 Will Rudland
5 Angus Blyth
6 Tipene Mavoa
7 Angus Allen (Capt)
8 Emry Pere
9 Jordan Lenac
10 Tyler Campbell
11 Hayden Sargeant
12 Jai Whitbread (vc)
13 Dylan Riley
14 Noah Lolesio
15 Max Dowd
