Grand final (11/9/04)
WESTS 15’S GREEN v 20 ROYALS 17
It was turning back the clock many years when some very good footballers played for
Lyneham High School and formed a club and called it Western Districts. This time it
was Western Districts taking a group of Lyneham High Students and calling them
Wests. A good blend of Lyneham players and boys from around the district came
together to make up this team.
In a terrific game of rugby Wests’ kicked a goal after the final siren to win.
Wests’started the game following the game plan to the letter. Quick rucks and good
clean outs that gave Matt Guy nice clean ball. He was able to get good ball to the
backs who used it to good advantage. Our kick and chase was very good and our field
position was good. Some hard runs from Jay soon had West in front 5 nil.
The first 15 minutes of this game was the best that Wests have played all season.
The half time score was 17- 5. Royals however had different ideas and came out
looking more aggressive in defence, targeting Wests ball runners. This tactic worked,
forcing crucial turnovers that allowed Royals to even up at 17 all.
Royals fly half had lifted and was carrying his team along with him, he was getting
involved in every play and was running at Wests slower players that were now being
caught in the back line. Royals attacked Wests line for 10 minutes looking for the
winning try. Wests defence and discipline held. Good talk and strong defence paid
dividends. Attacking Royals line with two minutes left Wests attack with all they had
left every player had given his all and were trying to do it one more time. Unlike
Wests, Royals discipline did not hold and they gave away a penalty on the 22 metre
line. 5 metres in West took a tap and headed to the centre of the field, Royals got
caught coming over and sealing the ball off. The ref’s whistle went, the siren went,
and Jamie pointed to the sticks.
Sam came up to place the ball on the tee for the kick. Pressure, pressure!!
The rest is history. It was a good game of rugby and Wests deserved their win. I was
very proud of the way the boys stuck to it and came back when it appeared that
Royals starting to get on top.
I would like to thank Soki Afeaki, Brad Zielke for their help during the season.
I would also like to thank Matt Sutherland who first put this team together and helped
out when he could.
And a big group hug for that band of loyal parents that came to the games and gave
the boys the support that they needed during the season.
See you all at presentation night.
Laurie Berry
Coach
Semi Final (4/9/04)
WEST U 15’S GREEN 24 v MARIST 15
Marist started the game far more committed than West’s with Marist forwards the
first to the break down and wanting the ball far more than us. After Marist scored
their first try our forwards started to enjoy the free running that has been with them all
year.
We scored two quick tries to go the lead 14 to 7. Our second try was a good display of
what we can achieve when we play good team rugby. The forwards won the ball at
the ruck, Matt cleared it to the backs who set another ruck, the ball was then spun
along the back line and we scored in the far corner. Marist took advantage of our lack
of organisation around the ruck and were able to score a second try, then kicked a
goal which made it 14 to 15.
To me this was the turning point of the game. At this point our players realised if they
played good solid phase football that they would be too strong for Marist.
Another strong game from Ken Burton, he pilfered a lot of ball from Marist and
tackled all game. Sam Tahola and Eddie Beetay made plenty of breaks that could
have lead to more tries if we were more patient. Jay Smith was unstoppable with his
rampaging breaks that left many would be tacklers sprawled all over the ground. After
a very nervous start West’s took control late in the game.
This game was a good hard game. Just what we needed before the big game on
Saturday at Bruce Stadium. The game starts at 12 noon.
Laurie
15’s green
WESTS 15’S GREEN 7 v ROYALS 35 (29/8/04)
An under manned team bolstered by some very courageous under 13’s played a great
game of rugby against a well drilled Royals forward pack.
Unfortunately some of the 15’s players were involved in a charity day held in
Canberra on Saturday. This meant that we were 5 players short, along with players out
with broken legs and sore backs, so we started behind the eight ball.
The under 13 players had already played a full game.
Royals exploited our lack of combination in the first half and went to a 28 nil score.
Even though this seemed excessive we really did not play all that bad.
After adjusting a few positions at half time we were the first to score in the second
half. With Ken Burton now at open flanker and Adam Gow playing well at blind side
flanker, royals attack was shut down. The only try they got in the second half came
from a great break from our fly half Eddie. We should have scored in the left corner,
unfortunately a turn over on the try line allowed Royals to counter attack and make a
break, a great chase by Graeme our U’13 centre caught the player 5 metres from the
line. Royals got organised quicker than us and scored the try. The second half was a
seven all draw.
I would like to thank all of the u’13’s that helped us out as well as the parents for
allowing the players to play, then showing that great West’s spirit and getting behind
the team. It would be remiss of me not to thank Ron Meek for his valuable assistance
during the game.
This was a good determined game for a team made up of reserves and U’13’s.
This game showed the level we have to play if we are to beat Royals. Our next game
should be against Marist at Gowrie oval # 5
Training is on Tuesday and Thursday at O’Connor Oval at 4.30
Laurie Berry
Coach 15’s Green
Wests 15’S GREEN 59 v St Eddies 5 (21/8/04)
Another big win against an opposition that was not able to stop our free running style
of game. Saint Eddies defence could not cope with Jay, Jamie and others taking the
ball up close to the ruck.
If we were able to develop our phase game we could have scored a much bigger total.
Unfortunately once again we developed white line fever with every body trying to
score. At times when we were down on our try line we still tried to run the length of
the field.
It is good to see that we now have developed a line out that not only can win our own
ball but is also a threat to the oppositions throw.
This game showed that if we don’t get our scrum right that even Eddies light weight
pack was able to win our ball. More concentration is required when we pack our
scrum, with every body making sure that they are in the right position when we pack.
Our defence on our line was very good, with our man on man defence working well.
St Eddies were frustrated to the point that they started to kick the ball away instead of
trying to break through our defence.
This week we play Royals at Rivett oval. Next to the shops.
Laurie Berry
Wests 15’sGreen 37 v Marist 5 (14/8/04)
On Saturday our Captain Pat Bell broke his leg in a tackle after just five minutes of
play. We started the game with only 15 players and one very sick Ben Roberts on the
sideline watching. The game was moved to another oval so that the game could go on
while Brad Zielke stayed with Pat and waited for the ambulance to arrive. Ben pulled
on a jumper and went on to play. The Centre’s became number Eights, Number Eights
became Locks, and with a reshuffle of our back line, away we went. Our defence was
outstanding with Ken Burton in Marists’ face the entire game forcing turn over after
turn over and scoring a great try from a charge down. Jamie Brodie took over as
Captain and lead by example making his usual bustling runs through the ruck and
hard defence that had many players looking around. This was a very important game
for us and it brought us even closer as a team and showed the great spirit that the
boys’ have. Next week we take on St Eddies at O’Connor . See you there at 10.30am
Laurie Berry
Coach
Wests 15 Green 35 v Grammar 7 (7/8/04)
Wests completely dominated this game with some very strong open running footy.
Grammar resorted to slowing the game down by continually infringing at the ruck.
They then declared uncontested scrums, another move designed to take the power out
of our team. To our credit we were able to lift the tempo with some hard straight
running in the forwards. Our forwards captain Jamie led from the front with some
strong running inspiring Sam, Jay and Dean to charge into the defence. This continual
attack from the forwards gave the backs plenty of good ball and position to attack
from, even though we did throw a few too many dummies when there was two and
three man overlaps.
One aspect that we can take from Grammar in this game, is the way they stayed low at
the break down and were able to turn over some of our ball, a good lesson for us to
take to the next game. Our forwards once again took control, giving the backs plenty
of ball to do what they do best, with the best move a double cut out run that even
bought a smile to my face ( not the easiest thing for an old forward to do!). Pat Bell
supported all day and scored three tries, Jay tells me he scored 2 but I’ll have to go
upstairs to check on that . Hamish played very well in the tight securing a lot of ball
for us. Ben was very solid at fullback and was faultless under the high ball.
Well done boys, good game well played.
Next week we play Marist at O’Connor Oval.
Wests U15’s Green 58 v Trinity 0 (24 July 2004)
On a cold and windy day a depleted 15’s green side took the epic trip down the
federal highway. Having been allocated the scenic ground number three, we set about
planning our assault on trinity. No hooker, no fullback, and no centre. So a quick
reshuffle and a hope that the glue would hold together away we went.
Trinity at home is a stronger opposition than when they travel, so the walk in the park
from round one turned into a bit of hard work this time around.
The game plan was to keep it tight for ten minutes then after we have taken the edge
off them start to attack with phase ball. No problems coach yep that’s what we will
do. Until kick off the first time we got our hands on the ball Sam made a big break.
So much for that game plan, maybe next game.
Our seven man pack was easily winning our ball so why not deplete our back line
defence down to three player’s add an extra player to the scrum and try to win their
ball. A pure stroke of genius of course why wouldn’t any normal team think of that.
After that scrum we continued to dominate trinity’s ball as well, but to their credit
they did not take the easy way out and go to uncontested scrums. Trinity gave their
best and at no stage did they give up against us. All of the forwards wanted to get
their hands on the ball and try to barge through the defence , this left little ball for the
backs , however when they did get their hands on it the backs scored some very good
try’s.
The first part of our journey complete. Now for the true battle 20 hungry people a
Macca’s choccablock full of every traveller, skier and footballer within 100
kilometre’s . Now you think that trying to put a team on the paddock is hard, try to sit
20 people around two small Macca’s tables with no standing room. Ahh the true battle
had begun.
Laurie Berry