Blog

25th MAY 2019

EASTERN SUBURBS ROOSTERS vs LAUNCESTON TIGERS

Saturday saw the Rooster convoy travel to Royal Park, Launceston where both our Women’s and Men’s teams were to play. We will do a separate report for our Women’s games.

The composition of the Men’s team was in doubt all week with a host of injuries and unavailables, and it looked as though we may be forced into a distasteful forfeit. However, with the demise of AMC from Division 1, our partners, Glenorchy had a bye, and five of their young players stepped up and travelled to Launceston to help us out.

The Tigers kicked off, and in what seems to be a Rooster habit on the first play, a mistake cost us dearly. A knock-on from the kick, and one minute later the Tigers were over wide out on the right wing. Fortunately, the kick missed.

The Roosters recovered from the early set-back with some great defence when required, and several attacking forays. Our experienced players, Gobbles, Robbie and Jake led the charge, and the Glenorchy youngsters were up to the task. 15 minutes in, Robbie Casboult charged to the line and only had to fall over, but chose to pass. Luckily, Launceston knocked it on. Several passes wide of the scrum, Kyle Fishpool dived over for his first ever try. The kick held up in the deceptively strong wind to leave us at 5 -5.

Easts continued to press on in attack through a series of penalties and ruck wins. Tahki Skrepetos was in everything making tackle after tackle, and the Roosters looked good. But it took just one turn-over, and the Tigers were gone and over for a converted try. 12 – 5 to them.

This rattled the Roosters a bit, and this time it was Launnie’s turn to press on. Four minutes later when they had the wing open, the Tigers threw the ball to the crowd 5 metres out. Perv won the ball from the line-out, but a hurried kick gave the ball back to the Tigers, they gleefully accepted and held on to go over to give them a 19-5 lead.

Half an hour in, a penalty to us put us on the 5 metre line. Our boys again dominated the air, and Tahki went over in the corner. Once again, the kick held up in the wind. 10 – 19 down didn’t look so bad, and right on half time, Richard MacNair got over the line, but the big Launcestonians flipped him and he was unable to get the ball down. Still, 10 – 19 down at half time and the wind at our backs didn’t seem too bad.

Two minutes into the second half, and the good thoughts vanished with the Tigers scoring a runaway try down the right wing. Again, a slow start! This time, Launnie had to contend with the wind and the conversion fell short. At 10 – 24, we had plenty of time and still had the wind.

12 minutes gone, and a huge Tiger played bully boy with Dickie, earning himself a yellow card and us three points from Jake’s boot.

Another 10 minutes, and 17 year old Tye Hart started a jinking run from half way, down the right wing and set it up for Jake with a beautiful try. We were now 20 – 24, and feeling good about things. We knew we could get there. But things started to un-ravel. The Tigers’ big centres started running the ball down the left side as much as they could, and started to find holes. Then, from a scrum 10 metres out they had a straight run to the line and took the score to 20 – 31.

With 38 minutes gone, sustained pressure, again built through the centre, and the Tigers bagged another, finishing the game at 20 – 36.

We can’t make excuses. We had our chances, but a couple of errors cost us. That is rugby.

Thank you to the five Glenorchy boys who travelled up, and played excellent football. And to our boys, too, who made the effort and played so valiantly, well done.

The Roosters’ best players judged by independent people were:
3 votes Robbie Casboult
2 votes Brady Bloomantra (Glenorchy)
2 votes Kyle Fishpool
1 vote Jake Hyland
King Rooster Tjumbo Hart (Glenorchy)

By Les Marshall.

Click on the thumbnails below to view the photos.