|
|
Half-time: Lockridge 15-5 Kingsway
Best on Ground: Bobby Duncan
People's Best on Ground: Bobby Duncan
Another week and another game as Kingsway got ready to play their third opponent in 2003. The setting was Morley Reserve, the location of last year’s 24-15 victory of the very same team Kingsway were playing, Lockridge Senior High School. Shane de Mello was out with an injured shoulder sustained at training and both Jason Wakefield and Stanley Southwood were unable to play. Wade Sparg returned to the field after last week’s injury and resumed the role of captaincy. The game kicked off in beautiful weather with only 12 players playing on each team. After a sea-sawing first 10 minutes in which no team really got the upper hand, Lockridge managed to put through a number of phases for some sustained pressure and finally managed to crack the line and score an unconverted try in the left hand corner. After the kick-off however, the Kingsway team managed to find some room on the wing but a combination of some good tackling by Lockridge and some poor handling from Kingsway saw a good opportunity snuffed out. However after that, some excellent play by Ashley Page and some strong driving by the forwards saw a try scored by Ross Litterick, his first ever in school competition. A missed conversion attempt by Byron Sparg left the scores level at 5-5. Some mistakes by the Kingsway team in defence on the blindside saw an unconverted try scored in the corner to Lockridge after some good work from their number 9. Justin de Mello was doing a good job in cover defence, however right on half time, Lockridge managed to dive over for another try, in the same corner as the previous 2 tries!! Their kicker’s woes continued as he missed his third conversion attempt in a row from out wide, leaving the half-time score 15-5.
In the second half, a host of substitutes came on in the forwards and Ashley Page was shifted into the backs. The second half started similar to the first with not much action in the opening 5 minutes or so, but plenty to speak about from then on. Some good defending by Kingsway in the back-line led to a good steal from Matt Johnson, however Tim Robertson’s kick downfield was followed up by no one except the kicker himself. Although Tim did manage to tackle the ball carrier, the ball tackler managed to get his pass away. Lockridge then just ran the ball straight back at Kingsway and managed to score after the ball went thought the hands of the backs. After a missed conversion attempt yet again by the goal-kicker, the referee penalised Kingsway for yelling and the kick was allowed to be re-taken. However, it made little difference to the scoreboard with the second kick pushed wide as well. After the kick-off, an excellent passage of play comprising a number of players saw Kingsway earn a penalty in front of the sticks. As their was no point in going for goal at this stage in the match, a quick tap was taken and a few more metres were gained before a ruck was declared unplayable. The resulting scrum saw Tim Robertson pick up the ball from the No. 8 position before being tackled metres from the line, however some good follow up work from a number of forwards saw Bobby Duncan go over for his first ever try. A missed conversion attempt by Byron Sparg meant that Kingsway still trailed 20-10. Lockridge managed to grab a try late in the game, just to the left of the uprights after some shoddy tackling from a few players. Finally, the first conversion was scored in the game this time from a drop kick and the scores rested at 27-10. And that’s how it finished, despite some late pressure on the Lockridge goal line. Well done to former teammate Adam Hasluck and his team on a commanding performance, to good in the end for the Kingsway Crusaders.