Match Reports - Grade v Eastwood

First Grade Report
Eastwood 95 Parramatta 10 (Brendan Lane, Jesse Leota tries)

“Eastwood ran riot to clinch the minor premiership with a 95 -10 disposal of wooden spooners Parramatta” : The Sunday Telegraph. To this point in the competition with one game to go I have never considered us to be the wooden spooners. I have watched every game this year and Saturday has to be my most disappointing time. Parramatta as a team played for about 20 minutes with out letting Eastwood score. In the first round at home we held Eastwood to 36-21 and we had a good chance of upsetting them.

Before entering the ground on Saturday I didn’t think Eastwood could do what they did to us. The Woodies are strong across the park and have exceptional line speed. They run to the gap and punish you and without being too derogative I thought our backs had a shocker. We don’t practise to drop the ball, pass to the opposition, kick when we can’t think of anything better to do, tackle high and turn the ball over at crucial times. The list goes on.

We are a premiership team building for the future. I didn’t expect to see the capitulation after the way we played against Wests. Eastwood would not have line speed if we put on the big hits that made them think about running at you. The game is simple, meet them at the advantage line tackle low and drive them back. I don’t know why we want to go high. So what if they unload the ball, put your shoulder into their ribs, pick them up and drive them into the ground. Every time they run at you crush  them and tell them you will be looking for them again. It is all legal. Rugby is a contact sport. Eastwood are not a physical side. They don’t like pain. Richard showed the way when he crashed Matt Dunning twice. We need a bit of mongrel. Pride was sadly lacking on Saturday. James Riddell had a great game and played with passion.   I would like to single out Will Pasi for a strong game in the front row and general field play. He held his own as did his other front row partners of Kliney and Richard against a representative front row.

We couldn’t have asked for a better start on Saturday. We were very positive and Lua was able to put in a little box kick which Jesse was able to pick up and score. We should have called the game off then because from the kick off we ran the ball back at Eastwood and failed to hold the ball as we were attacking. Eastwood score in the left hand corner. Eastwood 7 – Parramatta 5. Our next try came through Brendan Lane at the 16 minute mark. Our forward pack was dominating by taking the ball forward followed by some excellent clean outs. Richard and Will were especially strong in all the 3 phases of play that led to the ball going to Brendan. He was then able to out strip the Eastwood players to score a great try, 28-10.

The half time score was 38-10. Mick spoke about it being the worst half of the year and lack of commitment. Our first up tackler is being pushed off. We are going to high. If we are on the ground we need to take someone with us. Our scrum has to be the foundation, the backrow are packing to high and we need to push.

The last instruction was don’t let them score anymore points. I don’t think anybody listened to this as a cut out pass was thrown to Eastwood and they score. Eastwood’s next try came from us not tackling. The avalanche began from here, as it didn’t take Eastwood long to work out if they pass out wide our guys give up the chase. At the 22 minute mark the score was 76-10 and it wasn’t a good day. The penalties were even at 6 all when from the scrum 5 metres out we were awarded a penalty. We take the quick tap and drop the ball. Eastwood virtually play soccer with the ball and take it all the way to our try line before they dive over to score. It just shows you the total lack of commitment on the day.  Eastwood 83- Parra 10. Maile is then sinned binned 12 minutes out from full time for a high tackle. Ref have mercy on us. At the 10 minute mark James Riddell is sin binned for a shoulder charge. There is nothing in either of these tackles, we are now reduced to a Rugby League side against the minor premiers.

By this stage yours truly was beside himself. Nobody wants to see a side humiliated and their misery being further exacerbated by cheap yellow cards. You don’t deserve this boys, so I red carded myself for abusive and threatening language to the western stand crowd when they told me to pull my head in. The last time I was sent off I had to go to Crane Place in Sydney. The first question the judiciary asked me was who I borrowed the blazer from. I get upset when people look down on you. We all need to be passionate and resolute. You only play rugby for a short time. You are a long time retired. Relish your youth, play hard and strong. It is a game that shows the strength of character. We might not all play for Australia but we are playing in a competition that allows you to test your skill and strength as a person. 

Aim up boys and bring on Gordon! There is no better place to die than on the rugby pitch. We might get beaten but let there be no cowards in our team.

Second Grade Report

Eastwood 50 – Parramatta 0

The last time we played Eastwood we were beaten 74-5 and 6 changes were made on the day to the side. It follows then we should be happy that we have reduced the score and are now able to name our side prior to kick off. As you scan through the team and look at the players like Connie, Danny, Tom, Brayden, Sam Cleo etc. Seconds is quite a formidable team and we should have done much better against a young  small Eastwood side

Like Firsts you can nearly predict from the kick off how we are going to go and whether we are ready to play. Usually if the opposition score in the first 5 minutes you know you are in trouble. Eastwood’s first try came through quick hands and good line speed at the 5 minute mark. We did not adjust or number up. In possession we have difficulty catching and passing which means we turn the ball over too frequently and put our selves under pressure.  We constantly defend our line. Eastwood’s second try came through Parra on the line running out of defenders. 14-0.

In the next passage of play we saw Parra up on the line with a running Lui 10 metres out putting in a grubber kick. Can some body tell Lui front rowers don’t kick. Moses from full back made a dashing run of 30 metres stepping through a big gap. At the 15 minute mark there was a melee and Jason was yellow carded for giving Frosty a facial massage. There is a re shuffle of the forward pack as Jason leaves. Sam Mua is off. Frosty responds by scoring in the right hand corner from the penalty. 19-0. Eastwood’s next host of tries comes from Parra failing to tackle and by standing to flat and allowing Eastwood to intercept. We go to the break 33-0.
 
Belly talks about how we are not going to meet the man and Eastwood are not being challenged. We have to number up and not throw miracle passes. Rugby is not a complicated game, all you need to do is slow down the play and make them think. You are making them look good. We are going to high in the tackles and we are falling away.

In the second half we are little bit more composed.  Peni has come on and has made a 30 metre break and was pulled down close to the try line. The next 10 minutes sees Parra camped in our own half. Eastwood spread wide and score in the right hand corner, 38-0. Futa the “Big Man”  is on only to be yellow carded for a high tackle.  It was more ball and all but because of Futa’s size it looks worse than it is. By the way when Futa crunches you stay crunched. Eastwood score again. 45-0.  F.T.T. The try is caused by seconds failure to tackle. The side line is shaking its head when Lotus makes the devastating observation that the Parramatta technique is to get the ball and then turn the ball over to the opposition. As soon as this comment is made Eastwood catch the dropsy and spill the ball. Lotus comments that they have caught the Parramatta disease.

We are now 11 minutes out from full time and Parramatta are winning the penalty count 9 to 4, when a forward again kicks. Jack Gibson once said to Peter Sterling kick to where the seagulls are. We seem to kick to the open side and to the opposition. The rule is any forward who kicks is going to have his foot amputated. Eastwood score their last try from a scrum turn over. Final score 50-0.

Seconds be ready for Gordon next week.

Thommo