By “Nutta”
2nd Colts: Lost 43 – 7 against Warringah Forest at Melwood Oval.
Firstly, acknowledgement here must go to Aisea Namoa and Luke Maybank for mustering two complete Colts squads for 2023. I’ve been associated with DD for over 20yrs and I’ve not ever seen that. So full balls to those two and all involved in arriving at such a fantastic level of participation.
For the opening round, 2nds Colts came up against a well organised, strong opponent for a Radford Cup match made up of Warringah Rats and Forest Colts at Melwood Oval.
Feedback from the Super Coaches was that, despite the final score, the Red Men matched them physically across the park. However, perhaps a little unsurprising given the opponents, a few break-away tries from them allowed the score line to ‘get away more than it should’.
There were flashes of ‘good stuff’ though with some gutsy defence and some 100% efforts. This was typified by some three Drummoyne players applying pressure to force an error for Jesse Cheung to then scoop up the loose ball and run 40m for a try. Further, even things like lineouts were ‘weirdly good’ considering the lack of time the team had to build cohesion. Accordingly, the closing comments from Super Coach Maybank was that with a bit more preparation and familiarity with each other, we would have given them a run for their money.
Points were 3 to Ned, 2 to Lachie and 1 to try-scorer Jesse
4th Grade: Won 31-0
Comments from the sideline – Paulie Heller’s Finest took the field against Petersham in the opening salvo of a long day of rugby in sparkling sunshine on Taplin Oval on Saturday morning.
After two disrupted and disappointing years, significant investment went into preparations for this season with recruitment and preseason efforts few can ever recall being seen at the club.
And given such investment, I at least admit to have been feeling somewhat pensive about the weight that sat on the shoulders of the brave 4th graders who opened the season. As we all know, the confidence impact of a good start will put wind in the sails of even a poor ship whilst a poor start punches holes in the best built hulls.
However, any concern was pleasantly alleviated with our new kiwi recruit Chase Gatland crashing over in about the 5th minute and the points then started to fall as consistently as the rain was only some 24hrs before. And with tries landing almost as fast as the replacements from the bench were rotating (how good is it to see depth like that in 4ths?), the lads from Shammies were bamboozled by both the speed and the consistency of the Dirty Red play to the point where I almost felt sympathy for them. Almost.
A final score of 31-0 was a fitting tribute to their dominance on the day and a well-earned reward to Super Coach Paul Heller and his Trusted Tonto Luke Hayward for their preparations and squad management leading into the season.
3rd Grade: Won 34-10
Despite early disruption, a very strong 3’s line-up, comprising a combination of experience and future leaders of the club, took the point-scoring example of the 4ths and continued themselves with a solid first round display.
Comments from Super Coach Shane Scully were that the main takeaway for the Thirsties was that, under the leadership and influence of Captain Doc Carruthers, the game plan was executed exceptionally well, and had some clever delaying tactics from the opposition not been tolerated, no doubt we would have posted an even bigger score.
Super Coach Scully labelled the 3rds Pigs effort as ‘enormous’ – excelling at the line out, dominant in the scrums and winning both the hard carry/tackle impacts and the breakdown/clean out. They laid a foundation for ‘flamboyant’ backs to capitalise and entertain the crowd with ‘a series of long range tries more appropriate to a much higher grade of rugby.’
Super Coach continued, saying it was great to see Tighthead Nutta open the scoring with a 10 metre dash and dive to score under the sticks at about 5th minute and Loosehead Cameron “Forest” Goodacre scoring a remarkable 60 metre try near full time, that included a lineout win against the throw, a pirouette and some 6 defenders beaten.
But it wasn’t just a day for the Pigs. Typical of the day was a wonderful 70 metre try to Centre Cory Johnstone that featured smart ball movement, creative running lines and gutsy carrying but that ultimately had come from quick, effective lineout work to feed front-foot ball for such backline magic to unfurl. Similarly, a scintillating Wingers try including footwork, chip kicks and fantastic skills from Will Barton also originated from accurate and efficient midfield ruck clean out work that gifted front-foot ball to Fly half Nick Scully which then allowed a wide-spread backline movement to develop and a memorable try to result.
In truth, it was a display of middle-grade ‘total rugby’ and overall, 3rds were very happy with posting such a decisive win for round one.
1st Colts: Lost 14-17
That this Colts Conglomerate has a collection of talent rarely seen at DD goes almost without saying. Having two full squads of players as opposed to the usual scrambling to fill just one will do that. And adding to that talent on Saturday was a display of guts and determination that, while it fell short on the day, harbours well for a bright future.
The match itself was a seesawing affair and certainly neither side established any dominance. The willingness to ‘chance the hand’ in possession was equally met with a belligerent commitment to defend on the other.
However, I would be a liar if I did not acknowledge that both sides were their own greatest enemies. Neither side treasured possession or built pressure. And so accordingly, rhythm was lacking across the park. And through the chaos, the Shammies stole the bikkies.
The overwhelming impression left with this spectator was one of disappointment at the final score, but clear anticipation of what may be just around the corner if the lads can string together some possession, build some phases and work into a game. They have the tools and the talent but patience may be the most valuable lesson to learn.
2nd Grade: Won 48-5
Simply put, the 2nds were just dominant across the park. Shammies just weren’t in the match from any stage after the initial kick-off. As-such, from the sidelines it was a little difficult to stay focussed on such a one-sided affair, especially with my mate Jamison continually whispering in my ear. However, a couple of events did stand out:
• The performance from French Lock Corentin ‘Coco’ Delaune was huge. Surely there are improvements yet to come, but his physicality combined with svelte ball skills was remarkable and speaks of a future as big as his frame lying ahead.
• Loosehead Niall McDermott’s defensive work rate and scrummage was first rate.
• Irishman Evan O Connor at Inside Centre was creative in attack, assured in defence and from yet another dominating scrum, took the ball on his own 22 metre line to score what has already been acknowledged as one of the tries of the season at about the 45min mark.
• And newly anointed Club Captain Christian Vanezi reminded us all of the ball skills of Englishmen, with a shot at goal that only surpassed its lack of grace by the fact the ball finished further away from the goalposts than where the kick started. Outstanding.
1st Grade: Won 36-27
After the displays by the Opens lower grades throughout the day (Colts will get there), the weight of expectation was certainly on the 1st XV. With the crowd on The Hill and in the Old Stand including a couple of birthday boys, a few sore heads from the previous days Season Launch Lunch (dinner?), more than a few rapidly growing ‘wizard sticks’ and the odd ugly shirt setting the tone for ‘elevated enthusiasm levels’, the appetite was whetted for some running rugby and Red jersey dominance.
However, nerves are a funny thing and the Firsts responded to the moment with dropping the kick-off and having to spend the first 10min of the game in brave, scrambling try line defence.
But that set the tone for the day: a little ugly, littered with unforced errors, not the execution we wanted to see, but nonetheless it was gutsy, fearless and ultimately successful.
In that vein, the match was characterised by the DD scrambling, recovering and relieving pressure, only for (say) a lineout to be poor and the pressure returned. And such was the script before we finally broke free with fullback James Westbury putting winger Tui into space for a score in the corner for opening score of the afternoon.
Typically for the day, another poor restart then gifted Petersham possession and they duly capitalised with a try in the corner.
The lads responded though, and by hook and crook worked back into the game for Fullback James Westbury to score again near the end of the half, allowing Drummoyne to take a narrow 10-8 lead into half time.
Leading into the 2nd half, whilst our attacking lineouts were still poor, we were stealing enough of the Shammies lineouts for our Backs to then run against their ill prepared defensive line. And it was via such opportunism that led to a piece of individual brilliance by replacement winger Ilaisa led to long range try to Tui.
That try proved a catalyst and our play started to gel with forwards carrying effectively, getting over the advantage line and thus providing a front-foot platform for the backs.
And it was from such improving forward leadership that led to a quick tap from Filipe Labalaba to snag a well-timed try and further with Hooker Mark Roparti exploiting the gaps around the rucks with pick and drives that then led to a try by winger Ilaisa.
Replacement centre Evan was not to be left out and put a beautiful fend on an opponent to slide through and score in the corner to take a 36-20 lead late in the match. And despite Petersham scoring again to get uncomfortably within reach, our defence held out and ultimately Drummoyne carried the day with a final score of 36-27.
So, despite the scrappiness of the play, the 1st XV is to be commended on their scramble and their ability to find a way to win.
So all in all, it was a great day out at Drummoyne Oval. That said, next week is Colleagues at Woollahra. Colleagues are a perennial benchmark setter across all grades. So while we all should enjoy the wins, we all should be equally aware that what was good enough for Shammies will not be good enough against Colleagues.
Boire Le Vin.
Nutta.
#dirtyreds #deeperthanblood