*************** 1st Grade Report *************** Well Tuesday arvo and I’m still pulling mud out of places I hardly knew existed! A tough assignment for the boys with events conspiring against them, but still they managed to pull it together and go close. Two cancelled training sessions, a move from Waitara to Daceyville, injury pullouts on Saturday morning and players backing up from 2s all made it tough. BUT that’s the sugar-coating out of the way – no excuses, 1s have proven they can play good footy and let a good opportunity slip by on Saturday. Anyways on with the show.. Horns started well, maintaining good territorial advantage for the majority of the first half. We were able to pin UNSW in their own half with some strong forward carries and tidy kicking, but couldn’t cross the paint. The height and weight advantage served UNSW well in the set plays, spoiling a bit of Hornsby ball and preventing clean ball to our firepower out wide. We posted 3 points courtesy of Bingai’s boot but unfortunately went to halftime down 10-3 despite some great tryline defence, including a few front-on tackles from Tini left the UNSW runners in no doubt that Tongan props are not made for running into – I suspect their first try in the opposite corner to Tini’s cruncher was as much an evasive manouvre from him as it was an attacking play. Despite a few drowning fears in the heavier rucks, all 30 players made it to half-time alive. Sadly the break proved no help to Hornsby as we took the field shivering and obviously not as switched on as required, letting in a quick try and falling behind 17-3. To our credit we were able to hit back soon after, Duff utilizing the ‘dry’ part of the ground (read: shallower than ankle-deep) to thread his way through from 20m out and plant one under the posts: 17-10. That was to be the last time the Lions troubled the scorers as UNSW went on the attack, with Horns spending most of the last quarter tackling in our own half. Some desperate tackling from Jack at the back saved the day a few times, which combined with some gutsy clean-up work and smart kicking earned him Player’s Player. A couple of late tries saw the score blowout and made the drive home that little bit longer – remember how it feels boys, and let’s do everything to avoid it happening again! Play of the Day: Reg putting his balls on the line to try to prevent a quick tap against us on our own line. He’s still walking bow-legged after copping a punch where no man ever should. *************** THIRD GRADE *************** Before we start just a little bit of house keeping.. Tenno - the guys were all concerned about the speed in which your knee swelled up once you heard of the change in venue from Waitara to Randwick.The flowers are on the way! Brownie - part of bringing the beers means bringing the ice. Unlike you wingers - beer doesnt freeze when a forward runs at it! Stuey Rodham - Mate we have organised a conference call at 12:55pm next Saturday to discuss team tactics before kick off. We will gather around Snorts mobile in the middle of the field and if you could leave your phone on in the car we will page you in on the conversation. Muz and Pagey - I have made some enquiries at the op shop and they have MENS umbrellas for sale. So if you want to give that little girl her brolly back that you 2 were cuddling under on the way in the ground that would be the right thing to do. Just out of curiosty was that Celion Dion on that Ipod you were sharing? Tim and Gosso - nice work this week guys. Not a "Moyesy" between you. Ben - We had a vote once you left and its offical. You have replaced me as the roughest melon in an Hornsby back line this year. It was close - but I got the deciding vote. Of course there was a bit of footy in there as well. Take your hats of gents that was a high class performance under the conditions. The defence in that second half when they kept at us was outstanding and the general communication in getting organised was superb. Its not often I play a game with TJ at half back and his voice isnt the only one screaming in my ear, but there was 15 guys there chatting away to set up our best defence of the year. Stuey Rodham may not be able to tell the time but his experince played a major organising role in that effort and didnt go unnoticed. Gosso and Muz where probably the pick of the forwards this week. Muz was involved in everything at the breakdown and Gosso and his technicoloured head gear was as always doing a lot of the grinding work. Incidently I asked him about the colour of that head gear and he told me it was so his nana could pick him out easliy on the televised games. Regardless Gosso it stands out like a homing beacon in all the right places lately so keep plugging away. The scrum wasnt as good as it has been despite the best efforts of the front row. I think Cement and I have a few things to work on during the week to see which side of the scrum we pack on. I have issues with my left shoulder after damaginng it doing some of the charity work I do in my spare time and Cement hurt his during a new "dip move" that he and Maggot are working on. I am sure we can work it out and it will be back to normal next week. Our halves were at one like Latin lovers. Those sort of conditions are difficult for everyone but the effort from TJ to constantly pounce on those skidding, lose balls from the back of the line out and rucks was rock solid. For a 65kg (ringing wet) half back to do that all day makes him real dumb or real gutsy. As he gave me a lift out to that hell hole I will go with the later. In a back line that as a group performed exceptionally well there was solid running from Dale, Brownie and Ben that made our lives easier up front but Waz and Brent were again stand outs in attack. Brent I dont know if its that "wolfman" beard you have going on there but the way you are going at the moment there are few better. Keep growing! Another enjoyable week guys and I should be over this pain just in time to give the Newport boys a spanking (easy muz and pagey its just a figure of speech!) Have a good week and see you Thursday. Love, anon.