COMPETITIVE ALL GOLDS OVERPOWERED BY WARRIORS

WESTS WARRIORS 38 – 6 BRISTOL ALL GOLDS

Christopher Wilson at Twyford Avenue Sports Ground

SUMMARY

The All Golds put up a brave fight against the league leaders and reigning champions Wests Warriors but were eventually overpowered by their opponents who ran in three tries in the third quarter to turn an 8-6 halftime advantage in to a 26-6 lead. They added to this lead in the final stages of the game which was played in pouring rain throughout.

The game was marred by a sickening collision between the All Golds’ Russ Preston and Wests Sam Griffith that left both men flat out on the ground, concussed. After a ten-minute delay the match continued on an adjacent pitch while the players received treatment from the emergency services, who arrived quickly.

After going behind in the fourth minute, the All Golds took the lead through a typically strong run from Jack Uren who beat defender after defender before forcing his way over for a try converted by Greg Hamilton.

Wests replied immediately to retake the lead and during the second half crossed at regular intervals to build their winning lead and maintain their place at the top of the table.

REPORT

The All Golds put up a brave fight against the league leaders and reigning champions Wests Warriors but were eventually overpowered by their opponents who ran in three tries in the third quarter to turn an 8-6 halftime advantage in to a 26-6 lead. They added to this lead in the final stages of the game which was played in pouring rain throughout.

The game was marred by a sickening collision between the All Golds’ Russ Preston and Wests’ Sam Griffith that left both men flat out on the ground. After a fifteen-minute delay the match continued on an adjacent pitch while the players received treatment from the teams’ physios and the emergency services, who were quickly on the scene.

The game was played in constant rain throughout and consequently mistakes were frequent. Indeed, Wests’ Dan Munt dropped the opening kick-off allowing the All Golds to put immediate pressure on the home line.

The All Golds went set for set with the table-topping Warriors, defending strongly, and causing problems in attack with captain Jack Uren and prop Mike Harrison well to the fore.

However, Wests survived and created chances of their own resulting in a try on four minutes from Devin Weetman Norris who was on hand to touch down Luke Cairns-Nelson’s chip to the corner.

Five minutes later, play came to a halt as Preston and Griffiths received medical attention before resuming on another pitch.

There was little to choose between the sides, both defending with vigour and attacking with pace and the All Golds were good value for their lead. Prior to Jack Uren’s run across the face of the defence that saw him swat aside any number of defenders before crashing over the line, Henry Symons touched down Greg Hamilton’s kick to the corner but was ruled offside.

After, Uren had scored, Hamilton’s conversion gave the All Golds a 6-4 lead, but it would be short-lived.

Five minutes, in fact, as Ryan Couch restored Wests’ advantage as he crashed over out wide for an unconverted try that wrested the initiative back for Wests at 8-6, which remained the score until the break.

Following the interval, Wests took the initiative and dominated the second period from start to finish. With the exception of some powerful surges from Harrison, who played the full eighty minutes, and second row Matt Blacker who grew into the game as it went on, Wests had a glut of possession and most of it in the All Golds’ half.

With such an advantage in possession and territory, it was no surprise that the tries came.

Seven minutes into the period, Louis Robinson crashed over by the posts to be followed, six minutes later, by Couch who touched down from an excellent offload from Jack Gunson.

On the hour mark, Robinson forced his way over again and with Neil Thorman converting all three scores, 8-6 had become 26-6 and a match-winning lead.

The All Golds briefly threatened after receiving back-to-back penalties, but Wests held firm on their line and, on returning to the attack, Mitch Large squirmed over for a try before setting up James Robertson for a score with seven minutes remaining.

On the last play of the game, the All Golds tried an ambitious attack, but the ball went to ground, and Munt hacked it almost half the length of the field to the line before grounding the ball for a try to round off a game played with intensity but in a good spirit throughout.

MatchStats

Teams:

WARRIORS: Blake Nahu; Daniel Munt, Rees Millichamp Brown, James Robertson, Devin Weetman Norris; Ryan Couch, Luke Cairns-Nelson; Kye Wright, Neil Thorman, Louis Robinson; Mitchell Large, Sam Griffiths; Chris Watkins (Capt); INTERCHANGE: Bryn Farrow, Jason Lee, Manuel Palea’ahkan, Jack Gunson.

Scorers:

Tries: Weetman Norris (9), Couch (29, 53), Robinson (47, 60), Large (65), Robertson (73), Munt (79)

Goals: Nahu 0 from 2, Thorman 3 from 6.

ALL GOLDS: George Orriss; Connor Kendall, Connor Massey, Mason Ball, Henry Symons; Greg Hamilton, Mike Holden; Mike Harrison, Adam Turner, Russ Preston; Morgan Lewis, Matt Blacker; Jack Uren (Capt); INTERCHANGE: Ross Rochelle, Ben Cripps, Angus Fullerton, Jay Woodley.

Scorers:

Tries: Uren (25)

Goals: Hamilton 1 from 1.

All Golds player of the Match: Jack Uren and Matt Blacker had top performances in a team that played well, Mike Harrison put in an immense shift, playing the whole game, and carrying as strongly in the latter stages of the match as he did at the start and earns the award.

Scoring sequence: 4-0, 4-6, 8-6. (HT), 14-6, 20-6, 26-6, 30-6, 34-6, 38-6, (FT)

Penalty Count: 8-6

Referee: Peter Haymer