WildBoys vs. Shebeen Boys.
Wednesday 23rd March 2007
On a cold Midweek day at UCT Fields, the Wild Boys RFU managed to turn around their average performance against the Nadoes the previous week, to outplay the Shebeen Boys in a 35-0 thumping.Due to there being no lighting on the field, the start of the game had been delayed for approximately half an hour. Once that had been sorted out, the game began with the Wildboys making their intentions known from the outset in terms of playing a game that was far more structured in comparison to the previous week, as the forwards controlled the game far better in terms of managing to retrieve a lion’s share of the possession, which the backline were able to make use of effectively.
Warren “Oupa” Kelly got the scoreboard ticking for the Wildboys, with a break between the wing and outside centre from the halfway line, and then managing to shrug off two tackles to score underneath the posts, which was also converted with ease by Mike Russell to give the Wildboys a lead of 7-0. There were no other scores in the first half for either sides, in spite of the fact that the Wildboys had made numerous line breaks, which they failed to convert into points as final passes and decisions did not go the right way.
The second half began much the same as the first, with the Wildboys continuing to control the game possession-wise, and pressing forward with a certain amount of ease, as the Shebeen Boys first line of defence beginning to look awfully unstable and weak as the half progressed. With Three phases played from a scrum in the Shebeen Boys 22, hooker Scott drove from 5 meters out, through three Shebeen defenders, to score the Wildboys second try right next to the posts. Russell converted to make the score 14-0. It seemed as if the Shebeen Boys had little or no answer to the pressure exerted by the WildBoys, and not long after Scott’s score, Adi picked up from the back of the scrum 5 meters from the line, and ran hard and straight through the Shebeen Boys’ defensive line to score the team’s third. The ease, with which the no. 8 went through, without any Shebeen player coming even remotely close to making or attempting to make a defensive tackle, was a clear sign that this was a game the WildBoys were not going to lose as the Shebeen defensive line slowly began to resemble a block of cheese with holes appearing frequently, and more often than not the WildBoys were able to use it to their benefit. With Russell’s conversion, victory seemed certain.
The WildBoys fourth try, the try for the bonus point, was a wonderful solo effort from Warren Kelly. Having received the ball out wide, he outran the cover defence along the right touchline, stepped the attempted tackles of the left winger and chasing centre, and ran right around the fullback to score a wonderful try to make the score 26-0, which assured the victory, as well as a valuable bonus point for four tries. Jonty Rhodes-Harrison scored the WildBoys fifth try just before the end of the second half, and with Russell not missing a kick, the WildBoys walked of the field victors with a comprehensive score of 35-0.
Throughout the game, the forwards crossed the advantage line every time they carried the ball forwards, the backs broke the line with ease (with Rhodes-Harrison, Russell and Owen having done so frequently), and the wings were given plenty of space and opportunities to run down the line. I can only recall on one occasion the entire game where the Shebeen Boys had a chance to score, and their poor handling ensured they would finish the game without scoring a point, or claiming any points on the log. And the only reason the score was not greater was some desperate last minute tackles, as well as those last passes not going to hand.
In stark contrast to last week’s game against Nadoes, which was, to be brutally honest, an error-strewn game which could have been considered as entertaining as watching leaves blow in the wind, the WildBoys – 2006 B-League champions - finished off the first half of the season well with a wonderful performance to comprehensively beat the Shebeen Boys, who seemed to not have any response whatsoever to the much-improved Wildboys’ performance.
Wildboys 35
Tries: Warren (2), Scott, Adi, Jonty
Conversion: Russell (5)
Shebeen Boys 0 ©Raméters
Awesome!! Thanks Jammie, Our official reporter!
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