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ADDED SUNDAY 07/06/2008
TGS vs BSHS, here in Toowoomba. The day started as if it were going to be fine, then some fog rolled in, then it looked like it may rain, and it was sunny in amongst it all too. Beautiful day. I got to see the 13A to 16A sides yesterday on the main oval, before I broke for lunch and a few chats. BSHS won all those games, with really only the 15's blowing out in their favour. The TGS 15's have suffered a massive injury toll, I think with about 8 or 9 out, the injuries, some of them quite serious just continue to flow for them. TGS got the seconds and thirds, and there was plenty of expectation for the clash of the First XV's. First though, to the very best ground announcement I have ever heard, it was a cracker. The teams had just sat down for halftime and the TGS ground announcer came on the loudspeaker to mention sponsors and what not, but he started with this cracker. If you own an HK or HG Holden, you have parked it without the handbrake on, and it is rolling down the hill. Eldest son was near the event, and turned to see a guy running at full tilt towards his moving car, not sure if it his someone else's, or a nice big tree. Certainly witnessed some interesting refereeing through the day, I think one would have been the second worst performance I have ever seen, and if anyone ever surpasses the worst, then it will be something to see indeed. I also, as you know, am very fond of the parents/supporters, from any team, that can make offside calls and other decisions from 100 metres away, and very loudly tell everyone. It really does look silly. As many of you know, and I haven't hidden from it, I am a big fan of State High rugby and it's style, and was really looking forward to the match. I thought I was the only one! Walking around the oval at lunchtime yesterday, I ran into a Downlands parent that told me the same thing, "I like the way these guys play, whenever State High is in town, I come to watch." By the end of this day, he wasn't going to be disappointed. The match actually started with TGS hard on attack, on the back of a number of penalties, they had all the possession and real estate for the first 5 or more minutes. If they could have scored then, who knows, they may have gone on with it, got their tails up a bit and moved up a gear. TGS also put on some stinging hits early, and it looked like it was going to be a tough game, maybe even close. One of those TGS penalties, in the BSHS red zone, came from a stinging late hit on the TGS 10, that really hurt him, from Jordie Tuapou, I'd have to say probably late, although those around me say he was very committed. In any case, it was a big hit, I'd say maybe delivering a stinger to the hip, but it gets guys playing 10 watching for the next one. TGS got no result from it, and Jordie stayed on the field. Not long after that, the State High pattern, with a bit of possession started to take hold, albeit with plenty of mistakes. Human wrecking ball (see pictures) David Feao delivered a massive and brutal cleanout at the start of the State High raid, you really don't want to stick your head up against this guy. He had plenty more to come. I thought BSHS played with breathtaking handskills at times, that then let them down at times through the attempted speed of execution, but when it worked, gee it was pretty to watch, and it worked alot, and it didn't work alot. State High were very vigorous in the centre, again I liked their forward work, smacking across the advantage line with some aggression and power before ripping some wide balls in. TGS on the other hand were playing a more conservative pattern, and they are a much, much improved side under coach Bromley, and will no doubt continue to improve. State High just shifted from narrow to wide to narrow, to quickly, and with good efficiency for them to be able to adapt to the changing points of attack. As the game wore on their defence was doing the old, let them go by a little and try and bring them down from behind, and then later was trying to hit them high. Dave Feao enjoys being hit high, has a massive fend, again see the pictures of this wrecking machine. Dave Feao got I think three tries, maybe two, the first off an overthrown TGS lineout, big Dave simply caught the ball and ran straight, very straight, to the tryline. His second came from a seagulling effort on the left wing, all he had to do was catch the pass and stroll over, which he did easily. I can't remember if he scored off his most brutal, most savage run of all. He left Ben Reuter feeling to see how many teeth he had after he got dispatched with a fend, and bounced the TGS fullback like he was a tenpin in a bowling alley, a savage run that deserved a try, if in fact he didn't score it. TGS did fight back, and scored a nice try of their own, and went close to a second, in a stirring period for them in the second half. I really do like their 13, he is a guy that can break the line, and when he got some consistent pill yesterday on the front foot, be broke it a few times. One of the TGS wingers too looked pretty sharp. It was a different game today for league convert Ben Reuter. He struggled to get his hand on the pill for any carries, and all he would have seen in defence would have been the State High hammer, generally organized very quickly and efficiently punching forward very quickly, giving a nice go forward platform. Young Ben probably would have been very frustrated by this more closed down in close type rugby, he has a great ball carry and he has a big tackle, but it is hard to tackle guys traveling at ankle height in twos and threes while you are going backwards. Surprise selection for me was the other lad on Broncos scholarship, young Brandon Purcell at number 8, I say surprising but would never question what coach Bromley does, he is a very good operator. Apparently Brandon's defence last week from number 8 against Ipswich was stunning. His workrate yesterday too, for a guy new to the code, was very high. Joel Faulkner had a game of highs and lows, this guy is a superb athlete, a real tackle breaker, or beater, and just makes you suck your breath in every time he touches the ball with a bit of space. And the rugby player that everyone is talking about at the moment, big Ed Quirk. Unfortunately I don't think we saw the best of him yesterday, and he left the field with a badly bleeding nose, from a clash maybe with David Feao as they double teamed a TGS guy. It was a nice touch, I rattled off a few photos of the blood streaming down his melon, because I like blood, and he looked at me, smiled and gave me the thumbs up, tough kid. My regular readers know what I think of tough, in the truest sense of tough! However, the player I thought was best on field yesterday was Jordie Tuapou, his positional play and workrate, couple with his accuracy in defence, tells me he was the man I give the gong to, if in fact I was giving a gong. A really good day of rugby, and I can feel a different culture developing up at TGS, some really good coaches up there now, Mr Kelly (that's what the boys call him, and I have not been introduced, but ex Churchie a couple of years back), Peter Bromley of course, who I think is probably the best coach we have maybe ever had on the Downs, Steven Sweeny there at the 16's, another really good reader of the game and it's players with an innate ability to deliver messages well. There is also a bit of a build up of players with good base skill grounding that will serve them in good stead over the next few years. I will get the pictures up, just takes a while. You know I have never asked for money for the pictures I take, didn't think they were good enough, but some of what I saw yesterday that are being sold, I have been a bit harsh on myself I think, they were ordinary to say the least. The first set of photos featuring David Feao can be found here. The second set featuring Ed Quirk can be found here.
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WE DON'T STOP PLAYING BECAUSE WE GROW OLD, WE GROW OLD BECAUSE WE STOP PLAYING. |
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