A Grade Match Report
For the third time this season we where up against the Innisfail Vikings and after the last hit out against them we knew they would come out firing. During the 2009 season I think every one involved in the CDRU and all clubs have seen improvements week in and week out in the Vikings return to first grade. With this in mind we needed to play a structured game and not allow complacency to creep in to our mental attitude to the game.
Not long into the start of the game we would score thru some brittle to no defense when Tahl Young darted from the back of a ruck 15 meters out to finish all but walking over the line right under the post. Our next 3 tries where to be very similar and before we knew it we had our bonus point and still had 20 minutes left in the first half. We managed to play well disciplined Rugby and put together set plays and phases, the boys did how ever needed to be reminded at half time not to under man at the break down as it appeared every one wanted a hit up. By half time the score was 43 to nil.
It took a little longer in the second half before we would post our first try but the pressure was building and I could see the boys working at stringing phases together. We did end up scoring 6 tries to one in the second half to give us an 83 to 7 victory. The pleasing thing was that the boys didn’t get ahead of them selves and our reserves that took the field fitted in well. We do have plenty of work to do this week at training and we have set a great foundation to continue thru the rest of the season. We had 7 players not regularly starting in the team, which is pleasing in it self to know we can go out and put a big score on.
The Final score was
JCU Mariners 83 (Jordan Massey 3, Tim Scott 3, Tahl Young 2, Joey Webb 2, Dion Pryor 1, Fred Samuels 1 and Sam Penwarden 1 tries and Dion Pryor 9 conversions) defeated
Innisfail Vikings 7 (1 Try and 1 Conversion)
Our 3,2,1’s this week went to 3. Tim Scott 2. Joey Webb 1. Jordan Massey. The Managers Mug went to Oscar Fasavalu.
– Dave ‘Norto’ Norton
Reserve Grade Match Report:
For the second time in 3 weeks we headed up the mountain to play Atherton. Since our first meeting down in Innisfail, Atherton has been showing signs of improvement, and that’s exactly what we saw. With a full strength side and plenty of reserves Atherton came out firing, pinning JCU in their own 22 for much of the first 15 minutes. It wasn’t until our fullback Pete Woodward showed a little individual skill, combined with a lucky bounce that JCU finally broke Atherton’s line to score. Atherton did hit back straight away, hitting a penalty goal to make the score 5-3. Unlike the last two occasions Atherton did not allow us to get on a roll and muscled up well enough to spoil our game plan. JCU only managed to score one more try before the half time break making the score 12 – 3.
At half time we had a talk, and again we must have listened to each other with the second half looking much better than the first. Atherton put up a valid fight for the first 20 minute however in the end it was JCU’s fitness (probably not our skill) that got us past the line. Best on field this week goes to Ray Turner, Ritchie Dunbar and the try scoring machine Boe, for the backs best on field was Rodel and our safe as houses fullback Pete Woodward.
Well done boys hope your ready for the Bulls!
End score JCU 37 Atherton 7
– Alex Costello
