Blog

15th June 2019

EASTERN SUBURBS ROOSTERS vs TAROONA PENGUINS

The Roosters returned to the fray after a weekend away from rugby due to the Queen’s Birthday long weekend. The Club was looking forward to the return from injury, illness and other commitments of several regulars. Alas, it was not quite the case. We welcomed back Richard Miller after several weeks off due to surgery, as well as Mo, but this was counter-balanced with nine players still un-available. These included Captain Jake Hyland and Coach Jason Parremore.

Things looked dire. Right up until the boys went to get changed, Jason was still trying to put together a team. Thankfully our Glenorchy friends came to the rescue again with the loan of Brady Bloomantra, Tye Hart and Harrison Thomas playing his first game with the Roosters.

Conditions at Rugby Park were fine but chilly as the game kicked off with Cameron Smith refereeing his first game of the season.

In contrast to the recent slow starts by the Roosters, the boys jumped out of the blocks, and within 3 minutes following some beautiful team play, Jayson Turnbridge was over and Judd Sherratt added the extras for a 7 – 0 lead.

The Roosters continued to stay on the attack, and at times over-played their hand, resulting in some dropped ball. Setting the scrums was taking an eternity, and in reality the Penguins had the better of the early scrums. Loose forward Jonathon Elliott was everywhere and in everything. Something had to give, and 19 minutes in, a beautiful strike by hooker Josh Banks gained us a tight head. The boys were off and running and Robbie Casboult and Gobbles took the ball 60 metres down the paddock with a series of superb passes and support play that culminated in Gobbles scoring his first try of the season. The Penguins shouldn’t have tried to get under his skin. This time, Judd missed, and the score remained at 12 – 0.

34 minutes in, disaster struck. A stupid penalty for off-side at a line-out, followed by another for tackling within the 10 metres when the Penguins opted to run the ball gifted them an easy 7 points. Suddenly 12 – 7 wasn’t looking really comfortable.

However, just 2 minutes later, Brendan Elliott took the ball down from a line-out and charged to the line for a great try. 17 – 7 was better.

Then, as so often has been the case, right on half time we gave away a series of silly penalties and Taroona was good enough to score under the posts and converted to go to half time at 17 – 14. A disappointing return for the Roosters as they were clearly the better team.

The boys went out after half time with determination and purpose. They began to use their greatest asset which was their running game. Only 7 minutes in, some nice ruck ball and a couple of nice runs by Harry Thomas and Judd did the finishing. He was a bit puffed out, so left the kicking to Chris Munns who must have been a bit puffed out himself because he was having a blinder and running and passing with purpose. Two more points made it 24 – 14.

Twelve more minutes and a beautiful run by Tye and then Brady put Jayson Turnbridge over for his second. Judd had recovered enough to add the extras for a 31 – 14 lead.
Wiggy was on, doing what Wiggy does best. The old second row of Rick and Wiggy was re-united. Robbie had gone to prop. And Mo was back on the wing.

The Rooster faithful were becoming a bit cocky, but even they had no idea what was about to unfold.

Just two minutes later and before your correspondent had finished writing a note about the previous try, Robbie, Rick and Judd charged up the field exchanging passes like in a training drill and Rick scored an exhilarating try. Chris Munns again added the extras. 38 – 14. The Rooster faithful were going mad.

Another seven minutes later, Judd did what Judd has done for years….an intercept and off he went for another try with Chris again adding the extras. 45 – 14.

With 10 minutes to go, Judd was tired and needed a rest. With Taroona pressing the line, Judd knocked a Taroona player into touch and found a yellow card and the naughty boys chair. Unfortunately that gave Taroona a penalty try and cut the Rooster lead to 45 – 21.
But the Roosters weren’t finished. It was now time for the Robbie, Rick and B combo to charge up- field and for B to score his second. 50 points to the Roosters, our highest score of the year.

Again, the Roosters weren’t finished yet. This time, right on the final whistle, Tye set out on a great run, swerving, stepping and finding holes until he found Robbie who again linked up with Brendan for his third. Chris again added the extras for a 57 – 21 win.
A 40 points to 7 second half! My what a wonderful effort by our beloved Roosters.

Good luck to those sorting out the votes. The Roosters’ best players judged by independent people were:
3 votes Robbie Casboult
2 votes Chris Munns
1 vote Jonathon Elliott
King Rooster Marc Whitfield (who else?)

By Les Marshall