A grade
Another home Friday night match and we where looking at consolidating our position on the Ladder. Barron Trinity in recent years has always been a tough assignment and with this in mind the boy’s where ready for the challenge. Right from the warm up to the kick of the boys where pumped and that showed right from the kick off. Our attack was ruthless and combinations where starting to show and with our forwards setting a strong foundation we gave our backs to show some of there brilliance. The form the team is showing will go a long way to cementing our selves another finals berth. As we approach the middle of the season we must remind our selves not to get to far ahead but to continue to build on the hard work started early on in the season. The hard work that the team has been putting was displayed in the match with the boys running in 3 first half tries to 1 then 4 second half tries to 1. The Boys played for a full 80 minutes which is something that has eluded us in the past where have had the uncanny knack of letting teams back into the contest.
Some standout performances where from Noel Stanton, back from injury and playing like a man possessed, Tim Scott, what can I say what can’t the man do, Tim Hindmarsh, a Mariner Legend in the making, Scott Thompson, continually working on steady improvements, Rodel Glanville, big boots to fill with Tahl still out but showing the old fella still has it. All in all I was pleased with the team efforts and I am sure they will display a similar effort this week against a tough Wanderers side who from form this year can turn it on when needed.
Final Score JCU Mariners 43 (Tim Hindmarsh2, Tim Scott 2, David Robinson 1, Justin Brown 1 and Jon Bell 1 tries and Brown 2 and Bell 2 Conversions) defeated Barron Trinity 15 (Steve Erbes and Kani Simiona Tries Erbes 1 Conversion and 1 Penalty)
Norto
Reserve grade
The game against Barron was certainly the best game the team has played this year. Before the game we reiterated three things; Support, Tackle Low and Take the Tackler off the Player Low. Each of these things was carried out with gusto. It was great to see the team really taking it to them and they were reeling. We dominated scrums and the line out was the most effective it’s been this season. In general the intensity the entire team played with was exactly what was needed for this game. I only hope the team has it firmly etched in their mind and can remember it for the next time they play them, or even Brothers, so they can draw from it and realize we really do have the capability to win against them.
Another focus for us was to lift off the line together as one and put pressure on their attack. All of these things worked well. Almost to well as they scored in behind our backs as they lifted fast but left a hole in behind them close to the scrum. Lesson learnt I hope that we need the cross cover.
To lose this game (18-15), despite dominating the opposition, was indeed a disappointment. We scored more tries. You could say our failure to convert our tries that might have been the difference. You could say their inability to score tries and take the penalty kicks instead was the difference. You could say it was the hole they found between the forwards and backs that was the difference. However, for me it was their half back taking the ball out of the back of our scrum, from an offside position and without being pinged for it that was the difference. Everything else could either be improved upon, was a mistake, and every team makes them, or was an example of our dominance that led to the ‘soft’ kicking option. Yes, a kicking game has its place, but I am not a subscriber of that tactic too often.
There were many stand out players in this truly team effort, and the points awarded were spread accordingly. Tries each to Ray Turner, Craig Baker and Rob Rodakal. Each had terminated tremendous build up and phased play with effort made across the entire team to get them there. In the 3, 2, 1’s, there were 12 of the 20 players that took the field that scored points with their efforts on the field to be in the running. In the end the points had to be awarded. With one point, one forward and one back; Clinton Pryor and Craig Baker. Two points, again to one forward and one back; Luke Andrews and John Deacon. And with three points for another stand out effort; Ray Turner. Likely a result of one of the most entertaining individual runs of the game where Clinton received a kick and, after clearly selecting his target, in front of his sidelined team mates, lining him up and running straight at one of their players where he sent him crashing backwards with a wonderful hit, but forgot to use his non ball carrying arm and had the ball knocked down leading to a scrum, he was awarded the Managers Mug.
This week is the Wanderers and we are to approach this game as if it was Barron or Brothers, with the same three things to keep in mind. Wanderers had Barron at half time the last time they played, so they will be a challenge. And Brothers is next week, so we can’t relax and must use this game as preparation.
Peter
