Joeys 17 Scots 12
Neither side will be over the moon with their performance but it was a typical trial game of rustiness and fitting in with new players. It was not without some excitement and good play but, trial or not, I have seen a lot of them and both teams will have to step up if they are going to get the bikkies this year.
Joeys scored 3 tries to 2 but there wasn't much in it.
According to senior boys from both schools: Scots had a young team with 7 in Yr. 11 and 1 in Yr. 10 and Joeys had 5 in Yr. 11.
Joeys strength was in the pick and drive of its forwards, whose scrum was strong also. Scots had to infringe near their goal line when Joeys was doing this to keep them out. Since it was a trial Joeys didn't kick for goal a couple of times when this happened but went for the try and once they succeeded.
Scot's' strength was in their backs. With the Joeys backs caught short a few times and not being able to mark their man well accordingly, they had trouble on the flanks especially on their left hand side where Scots 14. Dylan Holmes had several long runs. He was always dangerous.
The try of the day started near the Scots' goal line and a Scots player applied several strong fends to Joey's would be tacklers to go up to near the Joeys goal line from where a try was scored. I thought I saw the number 11 on the player's jersey (Rayner) but it was on the right flank so it might have been Holmes. (Anybody know who made the run?)
What a try. Even the Joeys' faithful gave it a big hand.
The play of the flyhalves: Joeys 10. Deegan (NSW Schools U/16) and Scots 10. Horwitz (Oz Schools v England) was first class. I'll warrant that these lads will give their backs good service this year. Horwitz will be favoured to get GPS and NSW honours in 2012 but don't write off Deegan who is still in Yr.11. He looks more robust this year, which is just as well.
For Scots I was looking forward to see another Oz Schools player, 12. Stewart have a strong game but he was closely marked as you would expect. He went off injured in the 2nd half.
Scots 15. Kellaway (NSW Schools Twos) had a few long runs and looked like a young Matt Burke, who had many a stirring performance at the same Hunters Hill ground. He looks more settled in the fullback role in 2012 positionally, not that this was tested a lot by the Joeys backs. He is still in Yr.11; so watch this classy player.
Both no.8s Goldie (Joeys) with good rugby skills and Murray (Scots) with controlled aggression had fine games for their schools.
Scots will be well served this year if they get their forwards working together better as the Joeys pack did, and they improve their scrum and the handling of the backs: some of the passing in the 1st half stopped their progress up the field. They will also have to improve their discipline: they were penalised repeatedly defending their line and trying to stop Joeys pick and go anywhere on the field. They were lucky to keep all their players on the park. Very lucky.
Joeys sucked a lot of defenders in with their pick and drive near the Scots goal line but only once did they take advantage and whip the ball wide for a try after doing so. They have to do that more and also improve their lineout throwing, and kicking for the line and posts. Their backs did not penetrate much either.
Twos: Joeys 17-14 - after being down 14-0 with about 15 minutes to go.
16As: Joeys 27-5
15As: Joeys 37-7
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