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Round 9 Juniors Wrap Up
06-07-2009
Under 13s - Nedlands 34 def Palmyra 17
Clear skies at Britannia set the scene for a confident Nedlands team to run out against their south of the river rivals on Saturday. But their confidence was shattered early by the bigger Paly pack that came out blazing; running in two early tries after some barnstorming forward running met lacklustre defence. This was compounded when a turnover by Neddies was spun wide and a Palmyra midfielder scored near the posts, the conversion sending the Melville side 17 points clear after only twenty minutes.
Recent weeks saw the Neddies team run out comfortable winners and it would be a test of the teams resolve about how they would recover against opposition equal of their calibre. From the kick off Nedlands created a turnover and it was from there they treasured possession and controlled territory and were rewarded with a try to fly-half Hershelle Classen.
Front rowers Tom Sheminant and Noah Harris were again standouts in the tight as the Nedlands pack fought hard to gain some domination up front. Loose forwards Angus Gillespie and Hamish Dunn combined well on defence, creating great pressure at the breakdown. Through gaining some ascendancy Nedlands again threatened the line and some brilliant footwork saw Classen cross over again. Neddies went to the break a converted try down but with momentum in their favour.
Momentum continued Nedlands way in the second half, Classen again leading the way with some exceptional skills seeing him dot down twice again to take his points tally to 24 and a bag of four tries for the game. This achievement came off the back of a resurgent royal blue team that combined well to keep the Palmyra side from scoring again and managed to score another three tries in the second half. Morgan Fraser again defended well in midfield with Connal Taggert. Taggert scored in the corner after some committed running and support by Dunn who had moved to the wing.
aNumber eight Mitch Britotti also ran well off the back of the scrum against his old team, aided by the ever improving second rower Kiel Rochow who toiled in the battle up front. Nedlands finished their best game of the season with 34 unanswered points to the ecstatic delight of their supporters, particularly the tardy coaching staff. The team now has a deserved week off before they start their run for finals contention after the school holidays.
WELL DONE COACH GAINEY AND COACH SCOOTER!!
Under 12s - Nedlands 62 def Cottesloe Blue 7
If you weren’t at the game you could be excused for thinking that Cottesloe were a very weak team, but this was not the case , with our boys putting it all together and playing super rugby!!
On a fine and windless day with the beautiful Ocean views, play started at Cottesloe’s home ground with both teams probing each others defence and for five or so minutes both held tight. However gradually Neddies started to gain and hang on to territory. After a scrum midfield in their 22 we saw a textbook try - Good quick heel, Lewis to Evan to Alex to Johnno to Jack on the wing, Alex runs around to create the overlap and over for a try fantastic start! When Brett ran out with the Kicking Tee he had no idea how much running he would be in for as the game progressed!!’
The bench was now introduced with all eager to keep up the momentum and we saw some great straight running from Rueben, good hit ups from Hamish Hall and great work at the breakdown from all the forwards. What was emerging now was the support play from our boys, displayed perfectly when Alex ,after a good run , was tackled close to the line offloading to Rueben in perfect position who went over for the first of his two tries .
Pressure from our pack led by captain George was now showing and as Cott tried to kick out of trouble, Jack reading the play got back to cover and start a counter attack resulting in Jacob scoring the first of his two tries. Our set piece was terrific, scrums particularly strong and Will Sutherland the go to man in the lineouts. With some of our bigger boys out for the game, this was a big step up for Will who is only just back from injury, Well done!! Cott kept running their big forwards at us but good low tackles stymied every attack and we looked to get back on the front foot each time. Hamish Coupland making some fine tackles on bigger opponents, Johnno as well tackling superbly.
At the half time restart, Cott caught us napping out wide with their winger scoring a solo effort , but the boys soon got back to business. Our relentless support play was now the main feature with offloads at almost every tackle, and as anyone in rugby will tell you, when teams play this style well it’s very hard to defend against. Patrick was now busting tackles and making good yards and was rewarded with a fine try, George also scoring two tries; one from a tap penalty, good captains effort George!!.
Johnno was eventually rewarded for some great straight running scoring a try, Will Coggin, after some fine tackling, also went over as well. Rueben got his second and Jacob scored a fine try from a run down the touchline, breaking six attempted tackles with Alex on his shoulder all the way but not needed - Brett by now racking up some serious mileage with the kicking Tee.
The Bluepigs went up a gear or two yesterday. Fantastic game, boys!
U11s - No Report
U10s - Nedlands 30 def Joondalup White 20
This week saw the U/10's win their first game of the season, it was a well deserved win. The shift in confidence and attitude, along with the efforts of the last few training sessions has paid off. The winning margin should have been greater, but the game (being refereed by Joondalup) went overtime by seven minutes, with full time only coming when Joondalup scored a try.
We faced an aggressive team who were not afraid to (nor penalised for) tackling high, throwing punches or stomping. The boys used this to their advantage and turned the game around in the second half, with a great try coming from Nick Seipen who had just returned to the pitch after having been stomped. With three of our team away and a coach, we were fortunate to have two of the U/9's, Moshie and Hamish, on the sidelines to give us subs when we needed them.
The tackling this week was a pleasure for all to watch, every boy had their best game. Tries this week to Ben Herbert, Nick Seipen (2) and Matthew Bryan (3). Many of these coming from superb team efforts to drive through some big opposition players. The workload of the boys was huge and it is hard to single out any boy for special mention. They all took on board the half time comments by Brendan, that they could win this game, and they came out determined to prove him right. Congratulations U/10's on a well deserved win!
Under 9s/8s - Nedlands 35 def Joondalup Red 20
In what sounds like it could be a week of highlights for the juniors, the U9 minipigs chimed in with a performance that, in the eyes of those who saw it, was quite simply fantastic!
With "Wobbly Knees" Enslin bitten by the Wimbledon bug and away at a tennis tournament and Olly P taking a break with the family, a slightly understrength team emerged at Brittania. With Grumpy forced onto the whistle, and Wobbly Knees the Elder searching for strawberries and cream instead of Leederville, the minipigs were backed up this week by the ever supportive Dad of Jamie and all took the field looking slightly nervous about their chances.
Three tries in 10 minutes from Joondalup suggested that the nerves were well placed but slowly the boys started to play and with Lansy leading the line in front of Lansy Senior and Lansy Senior Senior, the team worked their way into the game and created some good field position. Fine work from Josh and Willo (Darcy) lead to pressure on the Joondalup line and "Red" Ted Rose and Jamie filched the ball close in for Red to force his way over and make it three one at half time. A good pep talk from Speedy Steedy, some wonderous oranges (more on that later) and a final exhortation from Grumpy for greater workrate and it was back on.
The minipigs resumed where they left off and went oh so close to a Jamie D try, only to lose the ball in the act of grounding and allow a Joondalup speedster to gallop away for a fine but disappointing break-out try. A turning point in the game, but in a most unexpected way. No heads down this week, the minipigs roared back and went up not just one, not two, but probably three gears as they put the Brothers to the sword. Tackling like demons, mauling as if their lives depended upon it, and combining both running and passing, tries from Gilly, Josh, Roadrunner (2) and Red Ted (2) were fine reward for a great team comeback and left the Joondalup team stunned. The newly structured forwards and backs really gelled this week with Willo and Josh outstanding up front, Matt G and Max D close behind. Roadrunner and Jamie organised the attack and defence lines beautifully behind the pack and Speedy was strong in attack with Gilly his usual brave and energetic self. Nobody was left out, with Swicky, Tom the Tiger, and Captain's award winner Mosh all playing a full, full part.
Lansy was a deserved Coaches Award winner as he showed the old fella (and the old fella's old fella) that he too might turn out at first grade when he's older, whilst Wig Winner Smithy was last seen wandering off into the bowels of Leederville with the Blonde Mullet beautifully positioned under his Scrum Cap! Finally, thanks to Iain Denholm for his help today, Nicola Smith for the usual efficient management and Roadrunner's Mum... who showed that whilst she cannot read maps, she is however a brilliant statistician!!
Great result, great fun, great bunch of kids (and parents!).
PS. Would whoever supplied the oranges please do it again next week (and the week after., and the week after that, and the week after etc ......................................................)
U7s - Nedlands def Kalamunda Black - forfeit
U6s - No Report
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