Hornsby Junior Rugby Union Club

After two weeks of no rugby due to school holidays, the season resumed on a beautiful sunny winter’s morning down at Waitara Oval with a fixture against Collaroy, whom we had played earlier in the season, going down 10-19.

Hornsby kicked off, and immediately Collaroy threw it to their inside centre who proved to be their go-to man throughout the game, and he pit in a long elusive run down the right side, but then chose to kick ahead. The kick was well gathered by Scott, and taken up into contact. However, a penalty came Collaroy’s way from the ensuing ruck, the quick tap was taken and our boys not being fully awake at this point, and some soft tackling let them in for the first try.

From the re-start kick Charlie gathered and put in a trademark bullocking run straight up the guts. Collaroy mustered sufficient numbers to stop him but at the ruck a penalty was awarded to Hornsby for Collaroy slowing down the release of the ball. Nick F carried the ball up from the tap penalty and with the re-cycled ball, Hugh darted through fro our first try under the posts. Unfortunately his conversion hit the upright and the scores were locked up at 5-5.

The re-start was similar to the previous one with Charlie putting in a good charge. A period of scrappy play followed, with both sides losing possession in contact and blowing some good opportunities to convert good front-foot ball into scoring opportunities. Play meandered its way down field with our boys enjoying more possession, until Nick F decided a change of tactics was called for. The No.8 grubber kicked ahead 20m into the in-goal area, chased after the ball and stretched out ahead of the cover defenders to dot down cleanly for a try. The conversion attempt from wide out was unsuccessful.

The half time whistle blew and our boys took a well-needed break at 10-5 up.

The Collaroy re-start kick was gathered by Hugh who set off on a jinking run. Our boys were awarded a penalty for a ruck infringement but the execution went a bit awry, with yet another handling error. Collaroy were awarded a penalty soon afterwards and with our boys conceding far too much space, they exploited the extra room to move with a long pass to their go-to man who sprinted through to score under the posts. Conversion successful 10-12.

Then our boys well and truly took a power nap, and Collaroy ran in two soft tries around the virtually non-existent defence, and the score line had started to blow out somewhat at 10-24. Not sure what was said behind the posts as the boys assembled to witness the successful conversion of the second of the tries, but our boys were suddenly galvanised into action as a team for the first time in the game.

A good chase from the re-start put pressure on Collaroy, who lost the ball in contact. From the ensuing scrum, the re-jigged back line (with Hugh at scrum half and Nick L at fly half) showed some decent attack like we know they can, with Charlie handling twice and making good metres each time, and ultimately scoring under the posts. Hugh’s conversion was successful and the gap narrowed to 17-24. The boys seemed to sense they were still a chance despite full time looming large, and from the re-start kick the backs were straight into attack, with a good burst from Dominic (one of several in the game), and good continuity from the two Nicks, culminating in another Charlie try about 5m to the left of the posts. A successful conversion would have tied up the scores, but today it was not to be.

Final score 22-24. One that got away. Some lapses in concentration, conceding easy points, and some silly handling errors were our boys’ undoing this week. Ah well…Coach Steve awarded best & fairest jointly to Charlie and Nick L. Also noted were some decent chasing and tackling from Jordan and Mitchell, a high general work rate (not to mention the front rower style side-stepping) from Ben!