KALA BULLS vs SOAKS
Thursday, July 31st, 2008Kala back on Track
The trouble with a shellacking (eg. 50 – 24) is the doubt it can put in the mind. No matter a terrific record through the whole season, despite a team replete with skill and endeavour, the “what ifs” can be just around the corner. The hoary old “We just had a off day” doesn’t quite cut it. With two weeks since the Rocky game, which team were we to see come out last Saturday?
The squad put in perhaps their best training for the year and coach Paul King made ten positional changes to the starting fifteen. Are we looking at our best starting fifteen? The team changes looked like this:
Vs Rocky Vs Soaks
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1 Williams. J
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1. Williams. Johnny.
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2 McQueen. J
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2. Peachey. Matt
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3 Rakai. Ben
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3. Minnett, Aaron
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4 Calder. B
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4. Hapi, Martinga
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5 Rangiwhetu. N
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5. Rangiwhetu. Niko
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6 Peachey. Matt
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6. Calder, Ben
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7 Skiba. Kyle
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7. Skiba. Kyle
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8 Tiatia. Valeni
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8. McQueen. Jamie
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9 Murphy. A
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9. Murphy. Aaron
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10 Hireme. H
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10. Kaa, Nicky
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11 Gillingham. Conrad
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11. Gillingham. Conrad
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12 Tofua. Quinten
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12. Hireme, Haydon
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13 Tatupu. Josh
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13. Kara. Dave
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14 Kara. Dave
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14. Fifita. Saula
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15 Fifta. Saula
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15. Allen, Kane
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16 Kaa. Nicky
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17. Liaga, Sioni
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17 Liaga. Sioni
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22. Rakai, Ben
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18 Minnett. A
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18. Walker, Brent
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19 Walker. Brent
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19. Tofua, Quinten
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20. Bell. B
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21. Tutara, Conan
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20. Bell, Brad
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16. Dunn, Jules
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The first half started with the heads down boys gaining control and they provided loads of quick, clean ball. From one breakdown to the next, the set moves and rehearsed tactics swept into action. Passing was crisp, handling was mostly sure and the team gave an assured display of attacking rugby.
Captain, Jamie McQueen, Kyle Skiba and Haydon Hireme showed the work rate required to play to our game plan against a top team. Jamie’s leadership was rewarded with a try (see pics) from a pick and drive on the line and Haydon signalled early he was in for a special game with two thumping tackles and a try. Towards halftime there were a few handling errors as some players seemed to loose concentration. In the critical period just before half time, Soaks benefited from the ten metres buffer and scored next to the posts from a quick tap penalty. 14 – 7 at the break.
After half time, the two teams settled into an even battle. About ten minutes in, Paul replaced both props in a bid to increase the pressure on the visitors. Unfortunately, Ben Rakia was caught remonstrating with his opposite number for lying on the ball in a ruck and was asked to contemplate his sins for ten minutes on the sideline. So the putsch failed and life continued to ebb and flow on the field. The final quarter of the match started with a scintillating run past three tackles by Saula Fifita. Then came another delightful try to man of the match, Haydon Hireme. 21 – 7. The game finished shortly after another backs try to Jules Dunn who had replaced the injured Conrad Gillingham on the wing. 28 – 7.
No doubt the team will look to rectify the lapses responsible for the soft Soaks try, but any questions raised by the Rocky game seem answered. We can play an expansive game and protect our line. In the first round Soaks ran through and around the defensive line but this week, apart from one notable lapse, they were not able to find, or make, holes to breach our defences. Well done Kane Allen for 4/4 conversions. Bravo to the tight five for the platform.
Innocent Bystander