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Half-time: Newman 14-0 Kingsway
Best on Ground: Hamish Thomson
People's Best on Ground: N/A
Starting a new season is always difficult, but considering you haven't played a full on game for over nine months, have a very much revamped squad and are playing a virtually unknown opposition away from home, getting off to a good start is going to be some feat!
This exactly the scenario the Crusader's faced in their first game of the season, against last year's Division One team Newman College.
With star fly-half Justin de Mello on an art camp, brother Shane moved into the fly-half position whilst Tim Robertson took over his place on the flank and Ross Litterick and John Ardeleane making up the locking duo. Most of last year's squad remained unchanged with Hamish Thomson, Jason Wakefield, Wade Sparg, Bobby Duncan, Jeremy Tan and Ashley Page all resuming their normal positions.Debutant Matt Johnson was slotted into hooker and did a marvellous job the entire game.
The game kicked off in beautiful weather on a beautiful rugby field with no real wind to speak of.
The errors of 9 months off immediately started to creep in as Kingsway fumbled and lost possession of the ball, but defended brilliantly against the Newman onslaught.
Wave after wave of pressure came Kingsway's way, and time and time again the trylin was kept intact. However, after 20 minutes of resiliance, finally the defence brokedown and Newman finally scored their first try. Some good goal kicking by, believe it or not, their prop (!) made the scores 7-0 after he succesfully slotted the conversion attempt.
Kingsway then made some attack of their own and after some good kicks for touch from penalties from Shane de Mello found themselves with an overlap on the left but unfortunately we failed to take advangtage.
A total lapse in concerntration then from a number of players from a lineout win saw the game style change from Rugby to basketball as the ball was thrown backwards from one player to another until poor Matt Johnson found himself with 3 Newman forwards on top of him, 5 metres from his own goaline. He managed to get a grubber kick away, unfortunately straight into the path of a Newman player who had a open goal-line in front of him. All he had to do was litterally walk over and score the try.
A successful conversion attempt saw Kingsway trailing at half-time 14-0, but still with alot of reason to hold their heads high.
In the second half, a deep kick-off by Kingsway allowed a great attacking opportunity deep inside Newman's half but the Newman defence was right up to the task and prevented the illustrious five pointer from being scored. After another 10 minutes or so with the ball being mid-field, Kingsway found themselves deep in their own half but had a chance to clear the ball. Unfornately Hamish Thomson took a bit to long with his clearing kick and in the tackle on managed to wobble the ball about 5m. Matt Johnson was then pinged for off-side after playing the ball and Newman quickly moved the resulting penalty to their advantage scoring their third try for the match.
However they failed to score the conversion attempt.
Kingsway then managed to apply some more pressure but once again failed to find a way through the wall of Blue Jumpers. Back in our own half, a high tackle close to the line meant that Stan Southwood was given a warning by the ref and the quick tap led to a fourth try to Newman College. Their goal-kicker managed to slot the conversion attempt, finishing the game with a respectable 3/4, not bad for a front-row player.
And that's how it finished, depite some more late pressure from Kingsway but the shortened half meant that a knock on by a Newman player, 5m from their goal-line signalled the end of the game.
Kingsway left the ground, having played an excellent game against some very worthy opponents, dominating their forwards in the scrum, ruck and maul and putting in a very respectable performance. The refereeing was also top class with no real terrible decisions to speak of.
Congratulations to Newman College on their victory and we look forward to next week's match-up at our first home game of the season against Churchlands Senior High School.