Mariners lose to Port Raiders 22 – 14, but remain equal 4th on the season ladder.
With reserve grade having a bye, it was an opportunity to field a fresh A grade side. We started with our usual enthusiasm for field position and points. The first half saw us up 14 – 7 through persistence in trying to execute our game plan with ties to Josh in the backs and Pelka in the forwards. A yellow card for a brain snap from Nik who was playing the house down with in-your-face aggression, gave them field position, and reduced us to 14 men and consequently they scored. The second half saw them use their field knowledge and with the Port wind at their backs they kicked through and scored twice, then kicked a penalty goal, to be up 22 – 14 fifteen minutes into the second half. A raft of injuries kept the scorers busy changing players, and this did not help our continuity in the lineouts. The scrum again held or was dominant most of the game. Some dropped ball proved costly again, with the final pass under the posts being put down as well as opportunities created out wide but then lost through poor hands. All in all, a disappointing day to lose but it must be remembered that Port are in the top two and we did create the opportunities to win the game, which is reassuring.
Thanks again to all those who made the trip, but especially to those who did not get a run. It is disappointing from a coach’s point of view that 6 out of the eight inter-changes allowed were made for me, with 5 injuries and two yellow cards needing attention.
Tahl played his usual honest game at half back and shown us he has a good kicking game, 1 point
Djaua’s defence saved several line breaks and certain tries, 2 points
Pelka was the hard working loose forward we have come to know, reading the play in both attack and defence, and again getting a meat pie. 3 points.
Doc
