Top Of The League
After Thursday nights game where the Storm beat the Broncos it meant that our game against the Tigers had much more significance. We were playing for top spot on the ladder. On top of that the Roosters lost Friday night to drop out of the top 8. How good would it be if we could take top spot and Roosters drop out of the 8?
It wasn’t going to be a walk over. The last few years the Tigers have pushed us all the way when we have played them earlier in the season. They were also coming off a 2 game winning streak.
No Walk Over
They certainly didn’t disappoint. They made us work hard for our win. Although never being in danger of losing, the boys needed to show plenty of patience in this game. Previous years and we would have made hard work of a game like this. The Tigers would have frustrated us.
This years team is a different side. We continued on from previous weeks with our defence which proved to be impenetrable. Like so often this year when there is a half break someone is there to shut it down.
We didn’t have it all our own way going into the break up 6-0. Several attacking plays shut down by the Tigers. They had really turned up in what I would say was one of their best performance of the year. They only made one error by halftime so they weren’t giving us much.
The Game Was Gone
Second half and a penalty about 10 minutes in gave us an 8 point lead. Couple of times we went close only to be shut down. With 10 to go the Tigers were still in it. Then in the blink of an eye the game was gone.
Two quick tries to Taane Milne and Latrell Mitchell saw the score jump to 20-0. An unlucky bounce of the ball prevented another try. A score line that didn’t do justice to the effort of the Tigers in defence. Although like so many times this year our boys can just hit you like that with back to back tries.
The Burrow were singing “we are top of the League” at the end of the game.
Taane Terrific
Since his return to first grade this year Taane Milne hasn’t looked back. He has been safe under the kicks and been great in getting us out of our own end. Saturday was his best game in the Cardinal & Myrtle. He ran for about 270 metre with 100 of them post contact metres.
Campbell Graham was our best. Again putting his hand up to play origin. There is no way he isn’t selected for the Blues. All game he was troubling the Tigers defence and so often shutting them down when it looked like they were going to break our line.
15 Men
In the end we basically used 15 players. With Tom Burgess pulling out that meant Blake Taaffe was going to back up after playing a full game in Reserve Grade. In the end he wasn’t used and Jed Cartwright only lasted 3 minutes before he was taken off for a grade one H.I.A.
This shows how well the pack played. Didn’t let the set back disrupt them. Cam Murray doing what he always does. Making over 50 tackles without missing one.
Cody again was dangerous and had the Tigers on alert whenever he touched the ball as was Latrell.
Izaac Match Winner
On a special note our NSW Cup boys came back from 22-0 down just before halftime to get up and win 26-22. If you haven’t already you need to look at the match winning try by Izaac Thompson. That was as good a try you will see by a winger.
It ended up a comfortable win. A game where we didn’t look to get out of second gear. A game where we showed plenty of patience.
After the game it was a special moment for so many. Getting to go out on the field. So many families out there creating memories. Kids kicking balls around. Others recreating tries by their heroes. It was great to see.
Eels At Allianz
Now onto the Parramatta Eels at Allianz for what is a special round for the club on the Rugby League calendar. Indigenous round. A round where he have had plenty of success against a team that in recent years we have dominated.
Top Of The League.
By Josh Kemp for Bunnies TV.
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