I want to start this match report with a shout-out to an SJC boy.
Today was a chapter of errors. I was up late, missed my bus (it's a long way from home to HH), then I came into SJC from the wrong side. The place is a rabbit warren and I couldn't find the main field, nor could the workmen I found help me. Then I saw this young lad. "I'm going to the field. I can show you." And he did.
He was playing for the SJC team against TAS 16Bs. He was, I think, the hooker, although I'm not absolutely sure. Whoever you are, you have my thanks. I was actually getting quite stressed.
By the time I arrived, my old team (the TAS Seconds) were down 24-0 against SJC 5ths. .The final score was something like 72-0.
At the moment, I think that we worry too much about big scores. Sure injury concerns are an issue, but the score itself is not relevant. We would have given up playing against the All Blacks several times if that had been a key concern!
TAS was losing in the backs. The SJC backline was bigger and faster, creating multiple overlaps. I know that this is hard. I remember playing for TAS seconds against a first team that included Rick How. Rick was as big as me and just about one second faster over 100 yards. He was the GPS 100 yards champion and later a state/national player. In cover defence, I got one chance. If I missed, as was usually the case, he was away.
TAS kept trying, although I noticed that some of the backs were getting very tired by the end and missing tackles. An arm out is not a tackle!
The standards gap between TAS Firsts and TAS Seconds is very noticeable. TAS firsts is a very good team. They displayed flashes of real brilliance, while the tackling was very good indeed. TAS has always prided itself on its tackling, and there were some magnificent low tackles as well as two on one tackles when SJC was really threatening as it so often was.
In the end, I think, the winning difference between the two sides came back to consistency and discipline. SJC was just more disciplined. with a backline that always threatened.
The game began at a ferocious pace with neither side giving an inch. My heart was in my mouth, as it was for much of the match. It was close on fifteen minutes before TAS scored first and then converted. Some five minutes later, SJC scored and also converted. Score 7-7.
A few minutes later SJC were in and then converted: 14-7 to SJC. TAS then returned fire, but failed to convert. 14-12 to SJC.
Play continued even. Then came a passage that I didn’t completely follow. The always dangerous SJC backline got away and then scored. This was converted. Score 21-12. Then TAS gave away a penalty, score 24-12.
With minutes remaining on the clock and the game gone, TAS regathered for a last effort. The TAS spectators were cheering, while the boys talked to each other. We could hear it across the field. The result was an onslaught as TAS threw everything at the SJC line. Try! But wait, ref, that’s the linesman’s flag. The officials talk and then no try. F@#*k!
It had been a good match, both teams played well, but so close! I had been going to have a drink with TAS people. Instead, depressed, I got on the bus and came home. Next year!