Matchday 15 – Match Reports

4th Grade
Brothers 12 – 12 Waverley

Well, this was a tightly contested game of high quality rugby between two of the top sides in the competition.
A first choice Brothers side ran on to the pitch and started by storming the Waverley line with just some excellent defence keeping out the boys from the blue and gold.
As the first half wore on Waverley got more and more into the game.
In fact, they pulled out a 12 point lead from two tries in the first half. One a sweeping move across the back line when our defence was stretched.
Only then did the Brothers boys start to pick up their game and play some great football.
Two tries in the second half from Tom and Tim, was enough to give us a conversion to pull into a 2 point lead.
The conversion however, was missed and that handed Waverely then momentum for the last five minutes where they pounded our line only for excellent teamwork in defence to keep them out this time.
A brave and excellent defensive display that keeps fourth grade in finals contention just about. Win required against Convicts next week.

Tries:
Tom C, and Tim.

Player points:
2: Leon – Ran some excellent lines, and tough defence.
1: Matt Gibbs – Captained the side, and led by example, got to grip with their maul eventually, and stop their momentum.
1: Niall – Going pretty alright for a converted 13. Can kick as well as most fourth grade open sides!
1: Tom C – Eager to defend and attack, scored a belter of a try and showed a clean pair of heels to the Waverely defence on a number of occasions.
1: Scott Lewis – First game, and an excellent all round performance. Solid scrummaging, and excellent defence. Did lots of dirty work.

3rd Grade
Brothers 6 – Waverley 11

Well, another dissappointing result for third grade which effectively ends their participation in the finals this year.
It wasn’t a bad game, with some quality rugby played, but with two well drilled and experienced teams on the paddock, defences dominated.
Brothers had some opportunities, but they were few and far between, and Waverley scored the single try that settled it.
It’s a shame for this third grade side not to see some finals action, but it has to be said that they never got out of the mid season slump that was brought on by higher grade back filling some positions due to injury and illness.
But that’s the nature of Subbies Rugby.
Roll on St George and Mac Uni to put a decent finish on a poor second half to the season.

Player points:
3: Heggers – Great defence, and drilled that forward pack with a constant stream of obscenities.
2: Opie – Good go forward ball, and strong defence.
1: Slutty – Key organisational skills in defence, and controlled the game from 10.

2nd Grade
Brothers 17 – 24 Waverley
It was a new look side that took the pitch, with Stu Raines and Tyler making their second grade debuts this season. Afte the tremendous season both of them had in Colts, it was great to see some great new talent keeping the more experienced players on their toes.
And it was Stu who was at the centre of most of the good stuff Brothers did in this game.
Despite missing lots of players to first grade, injury and illness, it was still a solid looking side that ran on.
We controlled the game in patches but dropped off tackles and lost concentration at crucial moments.
These key issues were enough to hand Waverley the opportunies they needed to kill off the game.
After Stu Raines has scored an excellent try by stepping off the left boot and running in under the posts, we were level with about five to go.
However, we gave the Waves one more chance and they executed it and finished with a try and conversion for a vital victory for them and one that steals our finals momentum.
We’re still top of the table, but two wins from two against St George and Mac Uni is required to give ourselves the right mentality for finals football.

Tries:
Stu Raines
Dom North
Dave Taylor

Player points:
3: Stu – Controlled the game, showed some nice glimpses of talent and scored the try of the day.
2: Dom North – Linked up well with the back three and was a constant threat ball in hand.
1: Hansie – Always gives 110% despite the mathematical impossibility of that. What a club man.

1st Grade
Another closely fought physical battle between two of the top sides in the competition this year.
Maybe teams are starting to figure out how to play against us.
We outscored them three tries to two which was enough in the end.
But it was a clos erun thing, and another game that further underlines the quality and strength in depth of all the teams in first grade this season.
We maintain our unbeaten record, but improvement needed.

Tries:
Charlie, Tazer, Bailes.

Player points:
3: Si – First start for first grade this season, and showed his quality. Good game for the bald assassin.
2: Tazer – His best game of the season, physical in defence and dominated the lineout.
1: Daz – Another solid game, great hands at times.