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RD 3 -V- RADFORD - Courtesy of John Barrett
RD 2 -V- ST EDMUNDS - Courtesy of Andrew Achilleos
Round 2: Marist 5 v St Edmunds 36
Tries: Mackay; Newton
The second round of the season saw us playing Eddies in an away game for us. Eddies only have one team in Div 2, with 27 players to fill 15 places, and almost all of our boys played in Div 3 last year, so this game was a real step up in class for our team.
We began well, the scrum was good and the boys held their own. We looked the better side for the first 15 mins, and should have scored twice, but handling errors and poor communication cost us those points. Eddies then subbed on some large lads who ran through our defence, and their score started climbing.
The second half started the way the first ended, with Eddies running in more trys. We managed to score one via an innovative blind side play by Macca. Towards the middle of the second half the boys lifted their defensive effort and showed great teamwork to hold Eddies out; again we started to look the better side. The boys played above themselves and should be very proud of their effort.
Tries: Mackay; Newton
The second round of the season saw us playing Eddies in an away game for us. Eddies only have one team in Div 2, with 27 players to fill 15 places, and almost all of our boys played in Div 3 last year, so this game was a real step up in class for our team.
We began well, the scrum was good and the boys held their own. We looked the better side for the first 15 mins, and should have scored twice, but handling errors and poor communication cost us those points. Eddies then subbed on some large lads who ran through our defence, and their score started climbing.
The second half started the way the first ended, with Eddies running in more trys. We managed to score one via an innovative blind side play by Macca. Towards the middle of the second half the boys lifted their defensive effort and showed great teamwork to hold Eddies out; again we started to look the better side. The boys played above themselves and should be very proud of their effort.
RD 1 -V- TABLELANDS REDS - Courtesy of Andrew Achilleos
REPORT
14 Blues v Tablelands Reds (5 May 2013)
Score: Marist Blues 20 Tablelands Reds 7
Welcome to the 2013 season. We have a challenging season ahead; some of the boys are new to the game this year or only in their second season, some of the boys have not played together before and we have 22 players to fill 15 positions. Despite these challenges the boys played well together and won their first game of the season.
Coach Bernie McCauley had the boys well prepared for the match. The scrum was solid, winning ball against the feed on several occasions. The forwards performed well at the break down; Phelps stood out, getting us ball by pilfering possession from the other side. Collidge played well, for a boy in his first season, running the ball hard at the opposition. The hard work paid off, and we scored first through Brad Hearne, who had a great game. Our handling let us down towards the end of the first half, and Tablelands scored and converted to be ahead 7 to 5 at half time.
Bernie had a chat to the boys at half time, and suggested a change in strategy to focus more on the pick and drive. This worked well, and Mulhall stood out for the forwards in attack with his hard running and solid defence. Scrum half Gale provided great service to his fly half Newton, and we scored three more unanswered tries by Edwards, Paff and Hearne to win the game 20 to 7.
Congratulations to the boys for a great start to the season.
There is one other thing I’d like to note. The team manager Brendan Mulhall and I were indulging in a bit of post-match analysis, when we were approached by the mother of a Trinity boy playing in the match after ours.
The mother asked us if we were a Marist team, we replied that we were. The mother then became a little emotional, and told us that last year a Marist team had played against her son’s team, and even though Marist was beaten, they played the match with great sportsmanship and congratulated the Trinity boys after the game.
She said that this marvellous display of sportsmanship nearly made her cry. We thanked her for sharing her story with us. I’d like to think that this team is every Marist team, and I’m sure the mother feels the same way.
Andrew Achilleos
14 Blues v Tablelands Reds (5 May 2013)
Score: Marist Blues 20 Tablelands Reds 7
Welcome to the 2013 season. We have a challenging season ahead; some of the boys are new to the game this year or only in their second season, some of the boys have not played together before and we have 22 players to fill 15 positions. Despite these challenges the boys played well together and won their first game of the season.
Coach Bernie McCauley had the boys well prepared for the match. The scrum was solid, winning ball against the feed on several occasions. The forwards performed well at the break down; Phelps stood out, getting us ball by pilfering possession from the other side. Collidge played well, for a boy in his first season, running the ball hard at the opposition. The hard work paid off, and we scored first through Brad Hearne, who had a great game. Our handling let us down towards the end of the first half, and Tablelands scored and converted to be ahead 7 to 5 at half time.
Bernie had a chat to the boys at half time, and suggested a change in strategy to focus more on the pick and drive. This worked well, and Mulhall stood out for the forwards in attack with his hard running and solid defence. Scrum half Gale provided great service to his fly half Newton, and we scored three more unanswered tries by Edwards, Paff and Hearne to win the game 20 to 7.
Congratulations to the boys for a great start to the season.
There is one other thing I’d like to note. The team manager Brendan Mulhall and I were indulging in a bit of post-match analysis, when we were approached by the mother of a Trinity boy playing in the match after ours.
The mother asked us if we were a Marist team, we replied that we were. The mother then became a little emotional, and told us that last year a Marist team had played against her son’s team, and even though Marist was beaten, they played the match with great sportsmanship and congratulated the Trinity boys after the game.
She said that this marvellous display of sportsmanship nearly made her cry. We thanked her for sharing her story with us. I’d like to think that this team is every Marist team, and I’m sure the mother feels the same way.
Andrew Achilleos
