Daramalan College matches

Daramalan College

1st XV

A really good start by TBSHS saw us camped out in Daramalan's half for the first 10 minutes as we searched for a way through their defence. We were using the ball well and were kept at bay by determined defensive play. However, the break through came when we set up a ruck and moved the ball quickly across the back line where Ewan Rockell drew the defender and offloaded to Ollie Fortune who jinked his way through to score under the posts for a converted score. 7-0

Daramalan came back strongly from the restart and pinned us in our own half. We defended well they created 3v3 and we got sucked in allowing some free space for the winger who went over in the corner for an unconverted try. 7-5

TBSHS continued to draw penalties and just inside the opposition 22 Dom Lilley took a quick tap penalty to Teddy Oliver who drew two Aussies and then popped the ball to a flying Will Powell who fired through their defence like a firework on November 5th to score under the posts! Converted successfully 14-5

At half-time the score between Jack Sharp and his opposite number was 4 rounds to 3 in Jack's favour and he was relishing the physical battle that the Aussies were bringing to the game!

The 2nd half started at an electric pace and the game was end to end but without any end product. This changed when Daramalan burst through and scored a converted try under the posts. 14-12

Following a couple of injuries to key players (nothing too serious) Daramalan were able to prize open the TBSHS defensive line once more to take the lead 14-19.

The confidence from taking the lead was evident and the supporters felt the tide was turning towards the home team with quite a lot of the 2nd half left to play.

TBSHS certainly rose to the challenge and being goaded by the oppositions supporters only fuelled their desire to win their second match on tour. With all hands to the pump and several players off injured the team pulled together as the game became very scrappy and there were penalties given against both teams. Then came a magical moment when Teddy Oliver who had been having a fantastic game received the ball with a 3v3 and dummied the pass to Ewan Rockell who was on the outside of him and backed himself against his opposite number and went over the line to score and Ollie Fortune converted with an excellent kick. 21-19

This silenced the crowd and the game became a little back and forth, with Daramalan getting a breakthrough before Ollie Fortune made a last ditch grab at his player as he went past him and stopped him from scoring. The running game that TBSHS had been playing took its toll on the opposition with 5 minutes to go and mistakes were made by the home side which we capitalised on and made ground into their half. A penalty was given to TBSHS and Harry Heywood put in a fantastic kick to find touch 5 metres from their try-line. Just before the line-out was thrown in the referee spotted blood on Angus Learmonth and asked him to be replaced, up steps Bradley Etherington (the scene is set for someone to be a hero). An accurate line-out thrown from Brad was caught and set into a driving maul which Brad joined the back of and controlled the ball as a final surge took them over the line for Bradley to score his first try on his debut for the 1st XV and a fantastic team try. 26-19

TBSHS were then able to see the game out to claim their second victory of tour and really boost the confidence further.

MOM - Jon Readshaw

2nd XV

The 2nd team started with a fantastic intensity and were playing some excellent rugby both in attack and defence. Daramalan had a lot of the early possession but were unable to get passed our strong defence. TBSHS continued to kick for touch on penalties and were winning our line-outs convincingly which allowed us to set-up the attacks. It was as a result of a line-out that Ben Pryor was able to smash his way through their defence to break the deadlock and allows Matt Foster an easg conversion. 7-0

TBSHS continued to exert more pressure and Brad Etherington drove towards the line coming up just short, the ball was offloaded to Ben Pryor who was held up as he went over for a scrum on the 5. From the scrum the ball found its way to Ollie Hougham who went low over the line to once again allow Matt Foster to convert. 14-0

Bradley Etherington was once again catching the eye of Mr Hale (1st XV coach) with his battering ram approach to the game and desire to get the ball. Each time he received the ball like a bull facing a matador he would look his opponent/victim in the eye and charge straight at them making valuable ground for TBSHS and drawing in several opposition players to halt his progress.

The half drew to a close with TBSHS continuing to exert pressure and some excellent play from Jack Stewart when he recovered from being flung around like a rag doll to dart through and offload to a flying Liam Demmon who made excellent ground before 2 men brought him down and the ref borough the half to a close.

The 2nd half started well with Jack Stewart receiving the ball at outside centre after a well worked passing move and he showed the locals what a clean pair of English heels looks like as he scores under the posts for Brad Etherington to convert. 21-0

With the wind in their sails the boys started to express themselves as Dylan Twitchett returned the kick before popping it out the back as he was tackled to Ben Pryor. The ball then found its way out to Bailey Grant who was flying down the wing, he then threw an audacious dummy pass selling everyone down the river before releasing to Cameron Weekes who was tackled in their 22.

TBSHS became a little too comfortable with so many points on the board and some complacency started to become evident which allowed Daramalan back into the game. This led to some silly mistakes which were capitalised on and they scored a converted try. 21-7

This was just the wake-up call which was required and TBSHS regrouped and came back stronger looking to put the game to bed. The team continued to work the ball in and around the ruck very well with Bradley Etherington, Ben Pryor, Ollie Hougham, Luke Withers, Owen Edwards and Ethan Simons smashing the ball up and taking it in turns to be the ball carrier. TBSHS continued to work this routine up the pitch making ground each time until Bradley Etherington took the ball over the line to cap an excellent game but unfortunately the conversion was missed. 26-7

With their tails up TBSHS continued to grow in confidence and moved the ball around well making life difficult for their hosts. Following a TBSHS attack the ball was turned over in the oppositions 22 and they kicked it to the halfway line where Matt Foster scooped up the ball and faked a kick before throwing his infamous hitch kick to step between two Daramalan players and darted through before stepping inside another defend to allow him a run at their try line where he was tackled on the line but was able to get the ball over the line. This try was then converted by Matt to ensure that TBSHS came away winners in what was a hard fought match and we hope that they can continue to develop in preparation for their next match. Final score 33-7

MOM - Bailey Grant