24th January 2009 – Mids 5 East (North)
Rolls-Royce 8 –23 Melbourne
Rolls-Royce’s recent dominance over local rivals Melbourne came to an abrupt halt in this Mids 5 encounter. Registering their first victory over Royces since 2006, Melbourne move 2 points clear in the league table in the race for 2nd place.
The match was littered with errors from both teams, but in particular Royces inability to compete at the breakdown and retain possession. Body positions in to contact were poor all game and the support play from the forwards was sometimes non-existent. Melbourne stood head and shoulders above their hosts in the 50-50 contests at the contact area.
The opening score was a penalty in front of the posts from the Melbourne skipper Holden. This after a series of penalties given away by the home team allowing Melbourne to gain ground down field. The scores were quickly tied again as Royces fly-half McLaughlin slotted a testing kick without a tee, resorting to the traditional method of a mound of mud for assistance. RR 3 – 3 Mel.
Royces capitalised on a series of Melbourne indiscretions at the breakdown, kicking for the corner and winning the lineout in the 22. After a short drive, a lack of communication by the RR pack allowed the Melbourne hooker to steal the ball from the middle of the rolling maul and set off on a counter attack down field. The support play amongst the visiting forwards was superb and quick recycled ball allowing Melbourne’s winger, Stringer, to beat the rush defence and break through for the opening try of the match. RR 3 – 10 Mel.
The remainder of the 1st half was played out in a similar pattern. Melbourne pressurising at the scrum and Royces dominating the lineout. Phases of play were short and disjointed as Melbourne seemed intent on kicking any possession they had away and Royces being turned over each time they tried to run the ball through the backs.
Half-time RR 3 – 10 Mel
At the interval, Royces stressed to each other that the game was there for the taking. Just some simple rugby, support the ball carrier and secure phase ball would have been enough to break down the visitors defence.
This advice seemed to work at the beginning of the first half as RR worked their way down to the Melbourne 22 and effective driving from a lineout saw vice-captain Taylor bundle his way over in the corner. A tough conversion, with or without a kicking tee, was missed by stand in kicker Dave Poole. RR 8 – 10 Mel. Game on!
The RR revival was short lived however as they returned to their patterns of the 1st half, conceding possession under pressure from the Melbourne back row and giving away needless penalties. 2 of which were slotted by Melbourne’s Holden either side of a try from their scrum half Foster. Holden also added the tough touch line conversion.
Final Score Rolls-Royce 8 – 23 Melbourne
A bitterly disappointing home league defeat for Rolls-Royce, their first this season. Injuries to Malcolm Lee and Dan Sanderson adding to their woes and taking the total number of squad injuries back up to 9.
Two tough games this week. Wednesday night away to Chesterfield in the NLD vase. Saturday away to a resurgent East Leake in the league. Both massive games to re-gain some momentum for the remainder of the season.
Team: Turner (6), Jardine (5), Betty (5), Burrell (5), McNamara (5), McLaughlin (6), Poole (6), Ranft (5), Brown (5), King (5), Taylor (6), Lee (6), Salmon (6), Gill (5), Sanderson (8) MoM. Subs: Blackhurst (5) (for Lee 30 mins), Gregory (6) (for Ranft 50 mins), Beech (6) (for Salmon 60 mins)