Mar 24, 2012

Premier Won 25 - 20 vs Meraloma

Under sunny skies CW chose to run into the breeze and from the kickoff, an immediate, Mike Pletch burst caught Lomas infringing at the breakdown and Maestro stroked the trey after a mere two minutes.  The visitors immediately struck back, with Josh Clarke providing the fire power, about six Loma phases and quick ball to Jenkins ( I think), who fed back inside on a perfect delay to Mercier who found the gap and turned on the burners for a well worked try.  Play went back and forth but it was not much of a wait for the next score!  From a scrum, the ball got to Mizerski, on to Paul Buckley and Monro fed Weingart who finished this nice ball movement.  Maestro converted from wide out and seventeen points had been posted in as many minutes.

The teams then settled for a spell, parry and thrust, highlighted by some thumping tackles.  There is a lot of respect between these teams but not a lot of love lost.  After CW failed to find touch, Lomas pressed and their push back was rewarded when they were awarded a penalty.  Wilson had the presence of mind to take the quick tap and the ball went to Mercier whose pace and drive proved to be unstoppable, after the ref consulted with his touch judge, he awarded the try.  This try was just reward for territorial advantage gained by Meralomas up to this stage. 

CW worked their way back into Loma territory and after a strong run from Samson, they received a penalty which was missed as the winds swirled.  From the restart, play went to the other side of the field and from a Goodland burst, Lomas infringed again.  Another attempt went awry.  Lomas eventually relieved pressure with a booming eighty meter punt downfield.  From this position, Lomas pushed back and CW was caught with their defense disorganized and gave up a penalty at the breakdown.  Another goal was missed.

Lomas kept the sustained pressure and maintained position and when CW infringed again (in fact the sixth occasion at the breakdown, to this point in the match), after a dangerous thrust by Boyd, referee De Goede had no option but to yellow card, Paul Buckley.  Tyrer slotted the penalty for a 17 – 10 lead for the visitors. 

This took the proceedings to the half.  Lomas had tackled like demons and had not let CW play a game with any kind of shape that would favor them, although the wags on the deck, offered that The Boys had not really taken the game to Lomas.  The pattern had been to test out wide but that was usually before any front foot progress had been made.

Whatever the assessment at half time, they got it right and the second half saw two tries and a 15 – 3 score line for Ceedub.  It started with Mercier being stopped on the try line by an amazing, well timed “ball and all tackle” by Savea.  This may well have turned out to be the game saver – thanks, Pita!  CW worked their way out of this conundrum only to be turned around by two great diagonals from Wilson.  CW defended stoutly to prevent any score and in fact, Matt Buckley’s “attacking tackles” started to cause some error prone handling by Lomas’ backs.  With Tiedeman leading from the front like a man possessed, CW retained possession going forward.  The team realized that this tactic was causing defensive line errors.  Buydens, Tieds, Peaches, Goodland, Maestro and Zac, all “had a go”.  Finally, it was a beautiful flat pass to Savea who teetered but retained his balance and flashed over for the equalizer.  At the twenty minute mark, Monro stroked a trey.

Lomas realized that their season might well be at stake and came back with power and urgency.  Wilson pegged CW deep but defensive pressure saved the day and swift service from Weingart enabled Monro time to make accurate clearances and get play back to enemy territory.  Some niggle ensued but the thirty meter penalty attempt for CW went marginally wide and it was all still very much in the balance.  A try went begging when Samson craftily created a two on one but the ball was knocked on.  It was CW’s turn to retain the field position and that they did with authority.  Some almighty scrummaging power splintered the Loma pack and the ball was scurried into touch.  From the lineout, came the try of the day.  Quick ball to Monro saw him throw a long wide, “double miss” pass.  The double miss froze the defense just momentarily enough for Savea to get a half break and he was money, CW 25 _ Loma 14.

Lomas finished with effort but Monro’s kicking and everyone’s commitment to defense saved the day.  Tyrer chipped a penalty with the hopes his side might finish with a tally but it was not to be, as the Home side trusted their defensive channels and closed down the advances of Clarke, Boyd, Erichson and Tyrer.  This was a good game and hats off to the officiating crew.  John De Goede with the Prems and Dan Beattie with the Firsts, both did good work today.  There was good post-match spirit as the teams enjoyed a feed together.

The win leaves CW in second, chasing James Bay with some tough assignments ahead.  For Lomas, they will need to keep playing hard and hope for a break to make the final four.  Hats off to Lomas MoM, Eric Wilson who is always a dangerous player, no matter what position he fills.  Mercier was very good and Josh Clarke toiled tirelessly.  For CW, Matt Buckley was the deserving MoM.  There was so much going on but one could not but notice the constant work of Jones, Illnicki, Hodgey and Kehoe.  There is always much to be expected from the FRF and today, led by Andrew, they were the goods.  Their second half scrummaging was a force, constantly upending the Lomas in the sets when it was really needed.  All the backs were very good value.  Pita’s brace was pure money and Weingart gets it all going so very well, not to mention his toughness.  So, it’s off to Klahanie next Saturday and our first stint with Caps for this season – another Local Derby that goes back to close encounters at the turn of the century.  Good job, Boys.