18th MAY 2019
EASTERN SUBURBS ROOSTERS vs HARLEQUINS
Our beloved Roosters on Saturday consolidated their place at the top of the Championship ladder with an emphatic come from behind victory over second placed Harlequins.
On a day perfect for rugby, the injury hit Roosters called up retired champion “Who Is Barry” Wheeler and put him out on the wing where he reminded the faithful of his class. The other walking wounded also put their hands up and sat on the bench ready to contribute for whatever time the Roosters needed them. On to the game…
Things got off to a terrible start right from the kick-off with a nameless person throwing a bad pass and we immediately came under the pump. Our boys hadn’t settled, and with some spoiling by Quins at the scrum base, it took only five minutes for them to score out wide. Luckily, the attempted conversion missed.
Quins kept up the momentum with their scrum base tactics and controlling the ball in the rucks. Coach Jason Parremore reminded everybody of his class with some great hit–ups and tackling. His supposed cameo 10 minutes kept stretching out. Then, ten minutes after the first, Quins bagged another meat pie. Again, the kick went wide.
Things didn’t get any better, another 10 minutes, another try, this time under the post, making the conversion easy. 17 – 0 in favour of the Quins, and the Rooster faithful began to look at each other.
Not to worry though. In a game seemingly broken down into 10 minute segments it was time for the Captain to step up. Swooping on a loose ball, Jake took off and out-paced the opposition and his team-mates for a 50 metre try under the posts. He reckons it was 80 metres, and no doubt in years to come legend would have it that he actually started in the dressing room. No mistake with the conversion though, dragging us to a 7 – 17 deficit at half time.
The half time talks by the experienced leaders suggested things were in control. Just a bit of tinkering here and there, and bring on Wiggy, one of the faithful who keeps appearing out of the woodwork to help out.
With Wiggy leading the way with some big hit-ups and Jason loving his work, the forwards started to turn things around and provide space for the backs. Inside Centre Judd Sherratt went over after 7 minutes, and Jake added the extras, to take us to 14 – 17. That was better, but the Rooster faithful were about to be rewarded with some of the most spectacular rugby they could hope to see.
The loose forwards started running amok. Wiggy threw himself at a Quins player who had the audacity to try a kick and smothered the ball into touch. A big run by Who Is Barry, the ball swung in for the lethal Jake and Judd combo, with Juddy going over and Jake adding the extras. 21 – 17.
Only 6 minutes later Brendan Elliott grabbed a ball from a line-out and joined in the fun. This time Jake missed, but we had established a nice 26 – 17 lead.
Only five minutes later, with the ball going through the hands from a line-out Brendan Elliott followed up and got his second. Jake again extended the lead to 33 – 17.
The Rooster faithful, already feeling good about themselves were now to be treated to a special bit of magic from Juddy with a beautiful flick to Brendan Elliott for another try. The magic didn’t extend to the kick, with Jake missing and Brendan getting so excited that he earned himself a yellow card.
Quins were becoming frustrated, and just three minutes later another line-out, another ball through the hands and another Judd try. 43 – 17. A magnificent 43 un-answered points by the Roosters. Unfortunately this led to some arrogance and carelessness, and Quins rushed the ball down the paddock. Juddy got himself a yellow card and joined B in the naughty boy area. Quins finished it off with a converted try to go to 43 – 24. Disappointingly, it was the second week in a row that we have conceded a try on full time.
But it seemed not to matter to the Rooster faithful who appreciated a wonderful effort from their boys who either carried or overcame their injuries and recorded their 6th win in 7 games this season.
In a team where everybody had such a wonderful contribution, the Roosters’ best players were difficult to sort out, but the votes judged by independent people were:
3 votes Jason Parremore
2 votes Jake Hyland
1 vote each Judd Sherratt and Marc Whitfield
King Rooster Richard MacNair for the second week in a row.
Written by our very talented and appreciated Les Marshall.
Click on the thumbnails below to view the photos.
