January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Renegades take down Police 22-10
Renegades take down Police 22-10
With undisputed league honours on the card both teams dove into the game with passion and commitment. Loose play was dominated by smashing hits put in by a fired up Police flanker Doug Davies. Both teams looked to play an up tempo game and use the swirling winds to kick for position.
'Gades and West Indies scrum half Tom Healy's legerdemain was a constant thorn in the Police side. A quick tap penalty by Healy caught the Police forwards flatfooted after referee Ron Flesch pulled up for a breakdown infringement. The sinewy Irish man ghosted through the startled Police and only the last ditch tackle by Blues fullback Charlie Rumball prevented a gift of a try.
The ensuing scrum saw a well-executed backrow move down the blindside put Healy untouched in the corner to open the score. MacGuiness knocked over the difficult conversion to extend the early lead 7-0.
Unfortunately, the try saw the departure of standoff Darragh O'Donnoghue who was hobbled by a nasty looking ankle injury. The restart saw disaster strike for the Police as poor handling put the forwards under pressure and eventually lead to a kickable penalty being awarded.
The clinical MacGuiness duly punished the Bobbies by slotting the long range effort to further his side's cause 10-0. Police rebounded with more structured play and it appeared that Police forward Iain Simpson had released Rumball out wide to score but the play was called back for a skirmish between pack leader David Bird and the niggling Healy.
Referee Flesch gave a stern warning to both players and it was the Police side that took the ascendancy with strong forward running lead by the rejuvenated presence of Mark Evans. Wave after wave of Blue forwards pounded on the doorstep of the resolute Renegades defense lead by the outstanding efforts of the diminutive Kiwi flanker Mark Davey. The Police front row of Andrea Battison, Jamie Billings and Nick West gave their opposite numbers a torrid time in the scrum set pieces.
The back peddling black and white scrums were an ominous sight in the first half. Unfortunately the dominance in the scrums was offset by the embarrassing ineptness of the Police lineouts which saw Renegades second rower Dave "Curly" Sitter regularly steal ball from the vertically challenged police set piece.
The half time whistle came with the Renegades having weathered the onslaught leading 10-0. The resumption saw Police continue their one dimensional approach of letting their forwards pound their way inside.
With the mercurial talents of Andrew Flint and Jonathon Cassidy outside, Police captain Jamie Webb needed to adopt a more diverse tactical approach -less kicking and more running with the ball.
Also the effects of three week sabbatical from local rugby due to scheduling and the World Rugby Classic began to cruelly expose the poor fitness levels of both set of forwards. Police eventually worked the ball out wide to winger Mike Kane who slipped in at the corner flag much to the protestations of the sideline who opined that Kane had tip-toed into touch before scoring. The referee was unmoved and the score stood.
Kane missed the difficult sideline conversion but the gap was narrowed to 10-5. Midway through the second half, the gale force wind shift dramatically behind the Renegades who astutely began to use it to their distinct advantage- simple clearance kicks took on 60-70 meter monstrous proportions.
The flagging Police pack regularly found hard worked inroads dashed in an instant. Their plight was not helped by the ponderous indecisiveness of their decision making which regularly saw wrong options being taken. Whereas the Renegades half back tandem of Healy and Greg Garside moved with alacrity on the rare occasion they received good ball. A long clearance kick took a fortuitous bounce and evaded the covering Police backline.
The ball was collected and quick recycling saw the veteran Mariner Jackson crash over for a back breaking try. MacGuiness converted to give the 'Gades a commanding 17-5 lead against the run of play. Credit to the boys in blue they did not quit and the injection of substitute Ken O'Shea's passion saw a fight back occur. A bollocking run by Billings provided the platform for the inspired Simpson to break through some weak tackling.
The brawny Scotsman off-loaded to center James Peagem who was dropped short of the line. The resultant quick ruck ball allowed Police scrumhalf Nick Superina to pop to a charging Dave Bird who drove over from 5 metres out for an unconverted try. With 5 minutes left, and at 17-10, the game was tensely balanced with both teams sensing victory. Police worked their way deep and were knocking on the door when the unremitting malice of fate struck. Control of the ball was lost and an outrageously long clearing kick found the Police defence at sea.
Renegades won possession and recycled well- top point scoring MacGuiness administered the coup de grace and scored in the corner with a hint of a knock on going undetected; finishing the game off at 22-10. With the win Renegades now lead the league by four clear points however the Police still have a game in hand. n
The second game witnessed a resurgent Mariners team, fresh from their victorious clean sweep of Mariner Spirit day, take on a Teachers side missing several keys players. Teachers enjoyed the wind in the first half and some astute tactical kicking saw them dominate territorially and in possession. A well worked move saw the Reds forwards set up a good platform, an incisive run by Harry Andrews created space out wide and quick recycling released speedster Jeff Sangster out wide to score. Standoff Chris Naylor woes with his place kicking continued as he missed all of his conversions on the day. Mariners responded well and looked particularly organized up front with Gary Brady and Dave Rorke driving in the loose and dominating in the set pieces. Richard Holden missed two difficult penalties into the teeth of the increasingly temperamental wind. Teacher's winger Sangster was uncorked down the sideline as the Reds worked a perfect overlap for their second score. With a tenuous 10-0 half time lead Teacher steeled themselves for a long second half as they had to face the gale like conditions. Mariners started with their tails up and made some strong surges. Holden knocked over a penalty to close the gap to 10-3 but stout Teacher's defense denied the Greens any try scoring opportunities. Against the run of play, standoff Chris Way sensibly grubber kicked his way past the hard charging Mariners defensive back line. The Mariner fullback was tackled in possession and the ball turned over in a well driven ruck. Teacher's scrumhalf Dave Porter took advantage of the serendipity when he saw that the Mariners back line was in tatters and threw a long pass out to the ageless Alvin Harvey who made no mistake to score in the corner. Up 15-3 and with the dispirited Mariners against the ropes, Teachers went for the jugular. Hoping to score a forth try to secure the crucial bonus point the Reds began to play enterprising rugby but unfortunately a combination of poor handling and darkening conditions conspired to deny them. The final whistle went before they could breach the Mariners defense. The hard fought victory brings Teacher up to 15 points in the league standings two adrift of Police (17) and six behind reigning league champions Renegades (21). Sitting in their accustomed place at the bottom of the table with 6 points Mariners will need a miracle if they are to secure their first league title in over 30 years.
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