Shore vs Joeys

Captain of Rugby

F. A. Baxter

AFTER A TOUGH LOSS IN THE PREVIOUS WEEK, THE SHORE BOYS WERE READY FOR THEIR FIRST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON AGAINST GPS POWERHOUSE, JOEYS. The week leading up to the game saw an improvement in intensity at training and a desire amongst the team to win. 

The walkout towards the ground was one of the highlights, with a huge crowd of Shore boys in attendance for what was to be a good game of rugby. Shore started the scoring early with a good lineout resulting in a try in the corner for Hugo Orpin. With Hugo converting his try for the sideline Shore went 7-0 up. Ten minutes later Joeys would respond with a try in the opposite corner making it 7 all. Joeys would score again making it 14-7, their way. However, another well executed lineout move, would see James Warner cross for his first try of the day and another Hugo Orpin conversion would see the score at 14-14. James Warner would wait just ten more minutes to score his second of the day, off the back of another maul, and yet again Hugo Orpin would convert it, making the score 21-14. Joeys would level the score just before the end of the half with the half time score at 21-21.

Shore kicked off at the start of the second half but it would be Joeys who would score the next try taking the score to 28-21. After multiple strong defensive efforts, Shore were able to work themselves back up the field putting pressure on the Joeys side. A fatal knock on for Joeys would lead to a Shore scrum. Hugo Orpin would once again make a run into the danger zone, however it would be the supporting Marshall Le Maitre who would put the ball over the line to get Shore back within two points of a draw. The ‘Iceman’, Hugo Orpin converted the try, making it 4 from 4 from the boot and leveling the score at 28 all with three minutes to go. Shore kept the pressure on in the dying minutes of the game causing Joeys to knock the ball once again, however this would be too late as the ref left the crowd and both teams stunned as he ended the game at 28-28.

While a draw is not what was desired of the day, the boys took a step in the right direction and have set the standard for the rest of the season.

On behalf of the team, I would like to thank all the boys who came to support us on Saturday. The support and cheers from the crowd made for an awesome atmosphere and was a huge part in driving the boys forward.