Match Reports - Grade v West Harbour

First Grade Report
West Harbour 37 Parramatta 36 (Brendan Lane, Andrew Cox, Lua  Vailoaloa tries , John Fonua 2 tries Pierre pen goal, 4 goals)

Thirty seven to thirty six. I’ll say that again. Thirty seven to thirty six. Should have, would have, could have. This game was the one that truly got away. There is always a defining moment in a game and ours was at the 60 minute mark, when we failed to find touch with a clearing kick. The ball lands centimetres inside the field of play, the Wests winger reaches down to pick up the ball and there is a slight knock on. Everyone sees the knock on, even West Harbour acknowledge the mistake after the game. The game is allowed to play on and Wests run from the half way and score - 29-22. Our heads go down ever so slightly. Wests kick off again, we turn the ball over from the ensuing line out. Wests receive the put in from the scrum. They breakaway and score 34-22. A simple missed knock on costs us 12 points. The irony in this is because you are coming last, no body expects you to win and more often than not the 50/50 calls go against you.

Wests’ first try was a beauty, a simple backline move that ended with the  winger being sandwiched  by 2 Parra defenders and he squeezes out like a salami and scores in the left hand corner. Its not long before we are back in the hunt when Jesse Leota chip kicks through and it is caught by Brendan Lane who runs around to score a great try under the posts. The try started from a forward power rush down the right hand side, then switching to the left hand side of the field.  The “Sideline Commentary Team”, (aka Al Cox) has been frustrated by some of the Parra kicks in the past, especially in our own 22m. However, we don’t really mind the kick when there is a purpose.

Parra are playing some of the best football I have witnessed this year. The Parra forward pack are exerting so much pressure that the Wests fullback Liam Windon is yellow carded for a professional foul. It is his first yellow card and my first time as the sin bin adjudicator. We had a nice chat. He even went to school with Maile at St Pat’s Strathfield. However, I digress. Parramatta are camped in Wests' half which is great for all of us because we are so use to seeing Parra defend their own line. Parra forms a rolling maul and Andrew Cox scores besides the post. Parramatta 14-5, unbelievable. We start to give away penalties which allows Wests to get down into our half. Wests are then able to set up and score wide out in the right hand corner with a simple backline move, 14-10. Five minutes to half time Jesse Leota is having a great game from full back and is drawing the man and making great breaks. Nick Boland is welcomed to first grade with a great Wests hit on him. Nick must have looked up and said Uh Oh!! Nick is driven backwards as he shows great commitment to lay the ball back. Our backs are able to pick up the ball with some strong open side running and simple passing.  Pierre and Caylum attack and the final pass is delivered to John Fonua to score. The big man is a delight to watch as he brushes off would be tackles. Parramatta goes to the break, 19-10 up.

Mick Carter talks to the boys about using the wind and keeping Wests pegged down in the right hand corner of the field with good kicks. In defence we need to sprint the first 5 metres and drive them back. We also need to get low on the ground. We need to control our set pieces. We are tackling really well.
 
From the kick off we number up really well and force a penalty which Pierre converts. Parra 22-10. We kick out on the full - this  allows Wests’ fly half Ben Volavola to stand up the entire  Parra team from the scrum and score a great solo try between the posts.  Parra 22-17. This is where our horror stretch starts and we go from the rooster to feather dusters. Wests race to 34 -22.  Lua is making bad ball look good as the forwards tap the ball to him. We receive a penalty and Coxy taps and runs. The side line calls out “bad decision”  but Jesse Leota make a break and passes to Lua who scores a deserved try between the posts. Wests 34 Parra 29. We lose a tight head 20 metres out from our own line. We are forced to defend our line and Iliasa is yellow carded for not releasing the ball. Wests tap and run and Parra plays strong by holding them out. The Wests’ fly half keeps us pinned in our 22 resulting in a penalty. Wests convert, 37-29 with 2 minutes to go. We take the ball from the kick off and spread the ball left. We show great control and discipline as Wests are frantic. Pierre stab kicks to his right and picks up John Fonua for his second try. John brings the ball around under the posts. Pierre drop kicks the goal for a quick restart. We run out of time. Final score 37-36. A great game boys, two bonus points.  Wests are really hurting, not one of their players/supporters or officials stay for the post game speeches.  First round score West Harbour 73 Parramatta 15.




Second Grade Report
West Harbour 63 – Parramatta 17 (S Peniongo M Tavola I Iu tries Cleo Gomez goal)

Second grade is an unusual team as you are never certain how they are going to go. Some times they draw into their shell or take it to them. A good indication of when they are ready to play is when they play tight and move up quickly and don’t concede a try in the first 10 minutes. In this game Parra played for 25 minutes before Wests were able to score. Their points coming off a rolling maul after 3 phases of play. Wests 7-0. From the  kick return Peni Fainu is taken high by the Wests prop. It was a cheap shot and he should have been yellow carded but nobody made a fuss. We kick for line but we don’t find touch. Wests respond with a kick and we are now on our line 15 metres out with our throw. We lose the line out and Wests score. Sam gets a smack in the mouth for nothing. Try 14-0.  Wests’ next try comes quickly because there is not enough commitment and the Wests forwards are too big and too strong, 21-0.

We start to come alive and Parra is looking stronger  with our own rolling maul.  Connie is playing well and making his usual breaks as he is pulled down 5 metres from Wests’ line. It’s nearly half time and Wests are running the ball. The bell sounds as Parra is penalised. Wests have gone the length of the field and they tap and run. We stand and watch and don’t move up to the runner. Wests score, 28-0. The question asked from the side line is: Why do give away tries after the bell? A quick retort from John Garland was “Thank God we only have 2 bells”. That’s about right.

Belly talks to the team about Wests’ 4 tries. No one moved up and their tries came from our turnovers. Our mistakes have not allowed us to get into the game. Tatafu spoke about the cheap shot on Peni and stating you don’t leave your mate hanging. Get some mongrel in you and aim up. We must put the ball out. We are not moving forward and we don’t have bodies in motion. 

We recommence the second half and the score quickly blows out to 42 -0 when Connie makes another busting run. A maul forms as we power forward. Sione breaks from the side of the maul to score beside the posts. Cleo converts, 42-7. Parra goes to sleep again and are affected by F.T.T. (failure to tackle). The Wests outside centre turns and runs though a gaping hole. Wests 49-7. 

Sam Mua and Danny Moore make a combined 35 metre run. Moses is playing well from the back pulling off great low tackles.  Wests’ next try is poetry in motion and was great to watch as they spread the ball to the left wing and then to the right wing. Wests 56-7.  Futa, the legend, comes on and is playing his first game as prop. Mika and Futa make a good set of book ends and we start to get over the top of Wests.  Futa makes a bust of 30metres and is knocking Wests defenders over like ten pins.  We are awarded a penalty. Futa taps and runs at the line and he is stopped short as Iopu takes the ball and scores, 56-12.  The next try is Parra’s as Moses runs 60 metres as the seas part for him and he dives full length with arms out stretched. He scores between the posts, 56-17. This would have been a fair result but Wests put another try into us after the fulltime bell to take the gloss off a great last 20 minutes. Final score Wests 63 Parra 17.

Best and Fairest 3pts Connie, 2pts Danny, 1pt Sione.




Third Grade Report
West Harbour 26 Parramatta 21 (Kevin Bortolussi, Mana Vi Iopu Iu tries Rupert Zappia  goals)

This game was there for the taking. Everybody played well and we didn’t expect to be leading 14 -5 at half time. Nino spoke about Thirds needing 3 tries to put this game away. You have to start again. Get your head around winning. We can do this. Make the tackles stick.
 
Mana was having a great first half he was so damaging from the rucks and mauls. At the 16 minute mark he put a great hit on Wests. It just set the tone. Nathan Lane from the back was making probing runs and the team was running hot. Our first try came through Mana taking the ball off the back of the line out 10 metres out and just smashing Wests as they fell away.  Wests replied very quickly with the Wests’ outside centre taking on our backs by chipping ahead and taking an amazing bounce to score out wide, 14-5. Our next try came though Mana breaking from the scrum 5 metres out and unloading to Kev Bortolussi who scored next to the posts. Tim converts, 14-5. Mana is spoken to about a shoulder charge by the ref. Wests tap and run. Parra defends frantically as the two smallest men on the field Nathan Lane and Kevin Bortolussi hold up Wests over our line and push them back. Wests are penalised for not rolling away.

The second half doesn’t start well as the first. I think Wests must have been listening to Nino. Wests from a line-out spread wide and we fail to move up and make the tackle. Try 14-12. We start to settle and Brett Gillet is combining well with Nathan Lane taking the ball forward. Sam Kei our number 4 is having a good game and running hard with the ball at Wests. Wests’ next try comes from a  scrum 13 metres out followed by a long range try from their own goal as we are attacking, 26-14. Wests are very quick out wide. Our last try came  hrough Iopu taking the ball from Sam Kei going forward on the Wests try line. Final score 26-21.

Thirds had a great game and it was well controlled by the referee. This was reflected with the penalty count being the same for both sides. Nino couldn’t pick a Best and fairest. He was impressed with Brett Gillet and Mana especially in the first half. Nino nominated the whole team for their commitment.



Fourth Grade Report
West Harbour 10- Parramatta 5 (Junior Tavola try)

Unfortunately Fourth Grade was called off due to the serious injury to a Wests’ player just before half time. On behalf of the Parramatta Club and Fourth Grade we wish the player a very speedy recovery. 

Wests won because the game was called off after half time and they were in front.

Parra scored first after 5 minutes through a backline move down the left hand side of the field with Junior scoring in the corner.  This was quickly followed by Wests scoring in the right hand corner, 5-5. Wests next try came from a rolling maul. Wests were very well drilled. The half time score was 10-5.

We welcome Milby as the new Fourth Grade coach.  He didn’t talk to the boys at half time because he didn’t want to waste it and he said that he only planned for the second half.



Thommo