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JAB Report: Marist v Blaketown 4/5/19

JUNIOR RUGBY REPORT
UNDER 14
MARIST vs BLAKETOWN
SATURDAY 4 MAY 2019

The first competition game of the season for the Marist was played against Blaketown at a windy and chilly Arthur Fong Park. The game started extremely physical and fast, both teams hitting the game head on.

Blaketown were first to score after Marist appeared to make it easy for them after a number of missed tackles. Marist scored quickly after thanks to Latai Tau’s good hands. He took in a loose pass and used a nice change of pace to drop off the Blaketown defenders. The try seemed to spur the green and reds on, with Sam Shaw and Lofa Leleifua leading the charge with some excellent tackling.

Marist’s next try was scored by Griffin Thomas who picked up the ball from some good maul work close to the line. Blaketown replied with two more tries before the half time whistle.

The second half was a try-fest, Blaketown getting in with two early tries. The pressure was on Marist and with improved defence, especially from Lochie Gibson, who’s slight frame was able to slow even the biggest boys the opposition had to offer, Marist managed to keep them from dominating too much.

Marist had the upper hand in the scrums, excellent work here netted them some needed possession. With the score 29-12 to Blaketown with just over 10 minutes to go, Tau scored twice in quick succession. Not be totally outdone, Blaketown retaliated with another try of their own stretching their lead to 34-24.

It looked to be over for Marist but the forwards took action and Noah Goodwin-Lister, who had been charging through Blaketown all day, crossed the line much to the delight of the Marist
supporters. A huge team effort, lead by Shaw, put the pressure back on Blaketown and kept fighting hard up front. Tau rewarded his team with a final try after a blistering 60 metre run.

The final score was 34-34 and was a good measure of the game. Marist looked quite organised at times and look likely to improve over the season. An outstanding game gained Sam Shaw the Marist Player of the Day with the Club Values award going to Antonio Verhoeven who was consistently good even with his position change to half-back. Both sides showed some real talent and looks like it will be an exciting season for this grade. Definitely worth getting out into the cold for.