Dragons 16s Educate Skolars

The day started off well at Anchorians as almost every expected player turned up early and executed a great warm, up with a significant number of First Grade players who came to contribute and make us better.

After the initial softening up exchanges, The Dragons started brightly when Riley Carpenter, playing on his favoured edge, exploded through the line and was too strong, too quick for the defence and raced away to score. Billy Gallagher goaled.

The Dragons cane straight back on the attack and strong carries in the middle from John Gallagher, Sai Kama and Sua Keletaona made big metres as good field position was established again. The rapidly improving Kyronn Fairlcough demanded and got the ball, and there was no way he could be held, as he carried bodies over the line near the posts for the Dragons second in quick time, pushing the score out to 10-0.

Growing in confidence, dominating possession, The Dragons were improving their Rugby League processes, with quick play the ball, and lots of push around the ball carrier. Carpenter saw an opportunity and took it again as he repeated the running line and was too, strong, too quick again.

Into the second quarter, The Dragons now had the game in their grasp and were camped in the opposition half. Owen Solly saw a hole and crafted a great run through a broken field to set up an attack. Awarded a penalty, a quick tap to Sua Keletaona saw him run onto the ball, running at an angle towards the posts, fending off attackers and crashing over to further extend the lead. Jake Parkes had taken over the kicking duties and duly added on the extras.

The final try of the half came from the irrepressible Billy Gallagher, playing on one leg, who saw a chance at dummy half and dived over. Parkes added the conversion for a 26-0 half time lead

26-0

There were some warning signs at the end of the first half and beginning of the second that concentration had been lost. A number of dropped balls, forced into touch, missed touch-finder kicks took the pressure off Skolars who were fighting to get back into the game.

Back to back set re-starts and penalties gifted the ball and field position to The Skolars and only a huge defensive effort, started off by Ben Olayiwola-Oke, aided by Leo Eversheds and the rest of the Dragons right edge to thwart the attack and earn the biggest cheer of the day. Oke and his wing partner Evan Baker are quickly learning the game, getting more confident each week and ensuring our edges are secure

Ityai Sengu, moved from the wing to the middle, immediately made an impact, bending the defensive line with strong, aggressive carries. Ned Conroy was organizing the middle and getting the team back on the rails This leadership, by both example and by guile, re-focused the team who came out of the bickering stuff and played football again.It was Riley Carpenter who came up with the try, his hat-trick, as the ball was worked left from a play the ball

As well as being a very safe last line of defence, Jake Parkes had been injecting himself into the play from full back throughout the game. Each time more effective that the last, his confidence up, he took a quick tap penalty 20 meters out and a mixture of pace and footwork saw him evade the defenders for another score.

The best attacking football of the game came with the last play, setting up some shape 40 metres out, John Gallagher put the flying Fili Laqaterabua into a hole, busting through at pace and never going to be stopped, smashed through the desperate defence and scored on the right. Parkes goaled to bring up the forty points

Final Score 40-0

Speaking at the end of a good day, Dragons 16s Head Coach Martin Coyd said ‘Pleased with today. It started off with the First Grade supporting then 16s and getting them ready to play. We were strong in body all day and were not going to be intimidated. Our forwards dominated the middle and the outside backs sparkled’.

‘Our defence was excellent, hard, strong, fair, organised and working together, we were getting three in a tackle and ensuring we were ready for the next one. The defensive effort on our goal line was outstanding and there was no way we were going to concede a try’

‘We showed signs at Rutlish last week that we could compete, even be dominant’ and we did that for longer today. We lost our way in the middle of then game, made some errors, allowed the opposition to distract us, losing focus and concentration. I am very pleased that they worked it out and got back into shape for the last period. The lads will be looking forward to Elmbridge next week.’

321

3 John Gallagher
2 Kyronn Fairclough
1 Riley Carpenter

Jake Parkes
Ben Olayiwola-Oke
Leo Eversheds
Riley Carpenter
Evan Baker
Owen Solly
Ned Conroy
Fili Laqaterabua
Billy Gallagher
John Gallagher
Sua Kelataona
Kyronn Fairclough
Sai Kama
Itayi Sengu