Mariners Show Strength Against Southside

By May 7, 2017Match Report

Reserve Grade – won 21 – nil.

With 13 registered Reserve grade players missing, a decision had to be made whether to forfeit or not. As our Club has never done this, it was play on, with those earmarked for an important A grade game, willing to fill in, and still go hard in A grade so the outcome there would not be jeopardised. At the death we ended up only running on 5 players from the run on A grade side.

Captain Ryan Godfrey having been told medically not to play because of an injured shoulder, took to the field and played through the pain. Old warhorse Al Herwig despite being laid low with a chest infection, also helped out. Several others were carrying injuries but in true Mariners spirit took to the field.

We welcomed back David “Disco” Ryan, Michael Papst, Robbie Reckenberg, and Dan Rosendale playing at Open Side Flanker, who was clearly glad to be back playing Club Rugby and with a high work rate and aggressive running and support play. Despite the disruptions, our set piece did well enough, and a semblance of a game plan was executed because the communication had improved. There was no lack of willingness to defend which showed in the nil score line to the opposition. Several players “ran themselves into the ground” in particular Jack Darby at half-back who just had to keep going as we did not have a replacement.

Tries to Sean Johnson, Dan Rosendale and Bryce Stanley.

Conversions – three from three to Bradyn Boske

Man of Match:- 3 to Dan Rosendale, 2 to Bradyn Boske, 1 to Adam Du Bois. Managers Mug went to Al Herwig.

A grade – won 25 – 19

Still smarting from the loss to the Mudcrabs the week before, we took to the field into the wind in the first half against a side just as desperate to get the season points. In fact their urgency resulted in two tries in the first ten minutes. This really tested our mettle and self-belief as we were confronted by a strong wind and a bigger forward pack. During the week we had spoken about a “no excuses” approach and the game, backs and forwards, became dependant on a spirit, reminiscent of previous Mariners teams. They would have been proud of you, boys. One can talk about an 80 minute effort, well, half the team had to play a lot more than that. This commitment and mental dig against the odds, was our real victory.

We went into half-time at 12 all, but now had the wind behind us. We scored first, Christian Aruha who had been swapped from outside centre to number 8, ran hard and aggressively from the base of a scrum, putting us up 19 to 12. Both sides had a player yellow carded for foul play, such was the aggression of the game. Unfortunately Sean Johnson had to be assisted from the field with a fractured ankle. With props fatiguing the opposition got some advantage in the scrums and scored from a set play wheel, blind-side flanker cleverly picking up the ball at the feet of the Loose Head Prop –> 19 all. With about ten minutes to go, and on the attack in their red zone, we got a penalty, but with confidence and self-belief high we went for the line-out but lost the ball in an ensuing tackle. Still believing, we got back into their red zone and this time when given a penalty, Bradley Manoi stepped up and slotted the 3 to put us in front 22-19. It was Manoi who stole the limelight in that last ten minutes. Southside knew the game was still within their grasp and employed their kick chase, the ball heading towards the posts and about 15metres out. Bradley did an exceptionally cool and talented catch running back to catch the ball over his head and into the swirling wind – game saved!!! We then got back to their red zone and with another penalty slotted by Manoi ran out 25 -19 winners.

Tries to Braden Veale, Nick Cameron, and Christian Aruha.

Conversions Bradley Manoi kicked 4 from 5, two conversions and two penalties.

Man of the Match 3 points went to tight head Kai Lowah, two points to the flankers and second row, and one to inside centre, Lachlan Aruha. Managers Mug went to Dudley Miles.

Leave a Reply