Scots v Joeys
First minute in and the large 'Back to Scots Day' crowd encircling Scots' Main Oval had barely made it to their seats when a sharp one-two punch was delivered from a lineout on Joeys' 22. Scots' ever alert hooker, Charlie Jeavons-Fellows tossed in to, and then received it straight back out from, tall-timber lock, George Finlayson, sending the Scots' rake scarpering down the right to touch down inside the corner post for the opening try after about 90 seconds.
It was a sharp move, well executed, that took the wind out of the large and boisterous JoeBoys' support contingent. As a nerve-settler for the home side though, it was incomparable.
Another sharply worked set-move off the back of a scrum (captured so beautifully on 'Sidesteppa's trusty cam-corder; see his post earlier in this thread at page 160, post 3199) from No.8 Charlie Crawford to live-wire scrummie Ben Miller, sending a spot-on cutout pass to leading try-scorer Tom Yassmin still with plenty of work to do down the right to go in, and it had the Scots boys up 10-0 early. The poncho-wearing JoeBoys' army in the Eastern stands was stunned to silence, and that would've been "music" to the ears of the lads in Gold.
The Scots D was switched on today and they were were not giving Joeys any room to move either through the middle or out on the edges, with left wing Billy Smith, outside centre Arch Gavin and custodian Will Simpson excelling in shutting down the most promising of Joeys' attacking manoeuvres.
A penalty kick to Scots was followed up by some tight control of the pill through the Scots' piggies, pick-and-driving through numerous phases across the middle, and gaining slow and steady forward progress until, close to the tryline, THP Darcy Breen bullocked his way across the stripe for more meat.
The conversion by Simpson had Scots up 20-0 up after just 17', but it felt almost 'unhurried' such was Scots apparent control of the first part of the game.
Life briefly sprang back into the JoeBoys' chants when one of their best on the day, #13 Yirrbi Jaffer-Williams, got finally driven ahead and over by No.8 Miti Tuinakauvadra, but most unusually for #11 Lachie Day, left unconverted.
But the JoeBoy' resurgence was short-lived, with more control from the Scots forwards allowing scrum half Miller to release Billy Smith down the left flank from around the Joeys 22, and with ears pinned back and a memorable don't-argue fend off of solid Joeys' LHP Layton Holley, Smith got over for more meat in the Northern corner. A superb conversion from Simpson from touch stretched Scots' lead to 27-5 at oranges.
The JoeBoys prayer circle at halftime looked to be calling on any and all celestial assistance to be delivered, and soon if you please, but the Scots huddle was noticeably lacking any great animation; Coach Brenac's "keep working hard" call seemingly the message du jour.
A 20' arm wrestle ensued in the second half until 'that man' yet again this Season, took the initiative. Scots' indefatigable hooker, Jeavons-Fellows, from an attacking lineout close to the Joeys' line, reckoned that it had all worked so well at the beginning of the game, he and his brother-in-arms Finlayson, should repeat the one-two knock-out punch. Ball straight in from the lineout throw, and straight back out. Short and sweet. Another try to "Charlie Jev" to take the Scots boys out to 32-5.
Not even the class of the JoeBoys' backline was going to put 4 converted tries on these lads in Gold in the 15' remaining, but it sure wasn't for lack of trying.
Living their "never give up" mantra, the boys in cerise and blue kept on coming, scoring first through their captain, #10 Nick Wilkinson, and again just before fulltime, to #13 Yirrbi Jaffer-Williams.
The final scoreline 32-17 to Scots, delivered their one hand on the School Challenge Trophy. And the return of the Firsts' teammates back across the pitch to their cheering supporters, with a rousing rendition of "Aulde Lang Syne" belted out with tremendous gusto, showed everyone just how much this win meant to this sometimes unheralded team.
And as news of Riverview's last-gasp win over Kings travelled Eastward from North Parramatta, the Shield became Scots' alone for Season 2016.
Well done all of you Gold lads. Very well done, indeed.
I coach an U9 team and I think a highlights package would be well received by parents and may help with improving skills. Can you please give me some guidance on what video equipment to buy.
