January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Renegades rout Rest
The day of rugby started off with Renegades Ladies taking on the Rest. Considering the wet weather and soggy field conditions, the girls put on a fine display. League Champions Renegades scored four tries with "on fire" Melissa Field leading the way with two, Claudia Phillipz and Katie Partington finished off the scoring but it was not enough as the Rest, or "the Best" as they quipped, crossed over for seven tries. Showing her welsh roots, Sara McHugh scored a hat trick, Melissa Daponte scored two, Jodi Crawford and Jillian Brydon chipped in one each to ensure a well deserved 7-4 victory.
The second match of the day was an Over 40's encounter with some legends coming out for both sides. Sadly there wasn't enough for a full 15 a-side game but the players showed that although slightly slower they still have the technical skills for a highly entertaining game. Scoring for the Rest were Richard Hartley, Keith Hodgkins and two from the Mariner old boy Steve Robb. None of the tries were converted. In reply Renegades had tries from Brendan Plessie and Ryan Mathers with Philip Heaney converting both. A comic moment occurred when Forsythe with the try line beaconing dropped short avoiding a devastating ghost tackle from Peter Shillingford and no doubt extending his rugby career! The final score of 20-14 was much appreciated by the vocal crowd with the Rest hoisting the Des Nash Over-40 Trophy in celebration.
The final match of the day saw League Champions Renegades take on a Select Side which on paper appeared to be very strong. The opening exchanges saw some big hits go in from both sides. The burly duo of Mariners' Dave Rourke and Gary Brady made their presence felt early but the Renegades pack lead by Paul Dobinson and Tom Kelly refused to wilt.
After a solid charge by Police prop Jamie Billings, the Rest quickly recycled the ball and standoff Chris Naylor's nicely timed pass saw Andrew Flint take the entire Renegades backline out wide before off loading inside to Steve Husbands who straighten up his run nicely and surged through to open the scoring. Michael Kane convert the try against his old club to give an early 7-0 lead.
After such a promising start the Rest had to endure an unrelenting Renegades onslaught which saw six unanswered tries being scored.
Renegades started the response with some good forward drives from Mark Lea and Mariner Jackson which set up a solid attacking platform. Tom Healy, returning from his stint with the West Indies Sevens squad in San Diego, was in dominating form and his acute rugby sense saw a gap down the blind side. A nifty reverse of course saw Healy sprint in untouched down the short side for an unconverted try.
The restart saw the Renegades bounce back and develop an attacking pattern that became all too familiar for the Rest. The Black and White pack was absolutely superb and consistently out-rucked, out-mauled and out-played the beleaguered Rest pack who lack cohesion and played for the most part as individuals.
When a desperate defensive foul by the Rest was conceded deep in the half, Renegades captain Steve Dunkerley turned down the easy three points and opted to kick for a lineout. The gauntlet was thrown down but was not picked up as Lawrence Daniels all too easily drove over for another unconverted try to gain Renegades the lead 10-7.
Renegade new comer South African Paul Waldburger then charged down his own chip ahead after Police player/coach Kenny O'Shea failed to corral a partially blocked Healy kick. Waldburger converted and taking the lead to 17-7.
Once again the Renegades big men up front took it to the counter parts and found them wanting. Referee John Wheeler showed that his was in a truculent mood when he awarded a penalty try for a flagrant infringement as the 'Gades were driving towards a sure try. The try was duly converted and the lead stretched to 24-7.
After a period of somewhat aimless kicking, the Rest found themselves on the rack again with a lineout ten meters from their own line. A perfectly executed set piece saw the ball caught by Marco Kielblock and driven into the five meter line where Healy imperiously demanded the ball from his forwards and passed the ball wide down the blind side to a lurking Daniels who powered over for his second try of the day. Waldburger converted making the score to 31-7 at the half.
Some sage advice from Rest coach Patrick Cooper saw his team respond with some fine open rugby. In particular David Porter whose outrageous dummy and dart through a gap released a supporting, Chris Naylor who off loaded to Kevin Walsh but the ball was lost in contact stifling the attack. More in-roads were made with audacious running but the adventurous attacks where thwarted by some excellent tackling and the ball was snaffled up by a pillaging Mike Williams who was relishing his role as a hooker. Renegades counter attacked effortlessly. With precision timing and a sublime angle of running the diminutive but brave Eoghan O'Dwyer slipped through a flat footed Rest backline to put the game beyond doubt with a converted try 38-7.
On the restart Referee Wheeler once again stamped his authority on the game when he quiet correctly punished a cynical tripping foul with a penalty try between the posts, further extending the Renegades lead to 45-7.
Some timely substitutions saw the Rest regain some respectability with a closing 15 minute passage of play that was highlighted with some spirited and determined running by Flint and Ryan Summerville. The Rest finally produced a quantity of forward drives and uncompromising rucking which saw O'Shea finish the scoring with a fierce hand off to Greg Garside's face before trundling over. Kane converted and the final whistle sounded. Showing why they are odds on favorite to win the Nichol Shield, Renegades routed the Rest in a thoroughly enjoyable 48-14 victory.
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