PREMIERS vs COASTAL
It’s been a while since the Doggies have played next to the Stoney River in Okato, and the home crowd surrounding the number 1 field with their cars, boots open full of refreshments certainly made a special grassroots feel about it the day.
The United side went into the match as underdogs with a depleted front row and having to leave two reserves off the bench when they couldn’t fill the mandatory five front rowers.
However, it was a cracking start with multiple line breaks from the opening kickoff, to see the Premiers captain, Louis Bartley-Saena, find a gap to go in under the timber with barley two minutes gone on the clock. Reti added the extras.
The Spotswood side certainly looked the better side in the opening exchanges, with multiple line breaks on the edges, and some silky pop-passes in the midfield that constantly opened up the coastal defence.
During one of these early attack periods a loose pass, that could have gone either way, was intercepted by Coastal’s Midfielder to run away uncontested under the sticks. This unfortunately was the first of three intercept tries gifted to the opposition over the match.
Coastal extended their lead in the 14th minute making it 14-7 before Spotswood United’s Player of the Day, Malachi Reweti, made the most of some fantastic open, offloading play to march up the pitch, grabbing a double in the last 10 minutes of the first half.
Spotswood United found themselves in the lead at the break infront of a shocked home crowd 17-14.
It would have been nice to call it quits then, but the next 40 proved to be a tough one for United as Coastal played territory well and their forwards went to work in the style of rugby they are famous for, grinding out a few well constructed 5 pointers.
As the fatigue and injuries to inspirational AJ Lemalu and Campbell Grayling, who go through a ton of work before a shoulder injury, took it’s toll as the scoreboard for the home side continued to tick-up regularly.
The final score was pretty disappointing for the Spotswood United Premier side in the end, not being able to get back into the game in the second half with 36 unanswered points. The final score 17 - 50.
Match Report: Jade Morgan - Premier Manager
DIV 1 vs COASTAL
The Division One team, who have also been struggling with regular numbers to date, had a few fresh faces turn up to trainings during the week which was enough to get a competitive team on the field.
Hopefully with numbers coming back to to both senior teams this week will give Div 1 the opportunity to train and play with a good compliment. of numbers ... watch this space.
The Spotty lads through the entire game we applying constant pressure, producing some extended phases on attack and constantly looked like crossing the chalk, just to loose possession or a simple mistake to turn over all in the green zone.
Coastal periodically chipped away at regular intervals to keep the scoreboard ticking over.
The final score was not the best reflection on how Spotswood United played with an unflattering 64 - 0 margin at the final whistle. |
