Close But No Cigar
The 1st XV, spurred on a black 'n' white coloured hillside of singing, chanting Wesleyans, could only draw with Rotorua BHS on Tuesday. Herewith coach Chris Bean's match report:
Wesley College 1st XV v Rotorua BHS 1st XV
Date: 29/8/06
Venue: WTC - Chiefs Championship Round 2
The match against Rotorua BHS would decide which side (Hamilton, Rotorua or Wesley) would progress through to the Top Four as the Chiefs' representative after Rotorua upset Hamilton BHS on Saturday. For Wesley to progress we needed to win by a 16+ margin, while Rotorua just needed a draw or a win. If Wesley won by less than 16 points, then Hamilton would go through.
Earlier in the year, Wesley and Rotorua had fought out a 13-all draw and this game would be another tense and exciting affair.
Rotorua take the lead after 15 minutes when a clearing kick is charged down by a (shockingly offside - ed) player who regathers the ball to score. His(unjust - ed) try is converted - Rotorua lead 7-0.
Wesley respond quickly and come close to scoring. They are able to keep Rotorua pinned in their 22 and five minutes later, from a scrum ,the ball is spun out to Heremaia Pene at second-five who slices through the Rotorua backline and scores by the posts. Hooker Sione Anai’alangi converts and it's 7-7. From the restart, Wesley make inroads and then Tino Halalilo throws a long pass out to the rampaging No.8 John Sikuea who breaks through the defence, draws in the last defender, then offloads to David Raikuna who scores in the corner. 12-7 to Wesley. And the end of the first half.
The second half sees Wesley placed under early pressure. Rotorua respond quickly and pass the ball along the line to score in the corner - 12-12. The remainder of the half sees Wesley make several scorching breaks but desperate defence keeps us at bay. Rotorua withstand this pressure and as the clock runs down so does the opportunity to achieve the required margin. Rotorua then move the Wesley side back into our 22 and with a minute remaining halfback Vuga Tagicakibau suffers a serious injury which sees the match end. For the second time this year both sides finish a titanic battle with a draw.
C.W.Bean
**
You may have noticed a few editorial "improvements" to Chris Bean's above report. A few (more) observations from the sideline:
1. Wesley's 1st XV has performed far better than anyone predicted at the start of the season. This was a young and inexperienced side with only four players returning from the powerful '04-'05 team.
2. Having said that, the team's rapid improvement heightened expectations amongst supporters. This team, on its day, was as good as any in the country. But they seemed to lose their way towards the business end of the season.
3. One obvious reason for this was the loss of captain Pomana Taniwha (off in Hawaii on scholarship). Without Taniwha and other key players such as 2nd-five Kingi, we lacked leadership. While old hands like Asa Lehauli did their best, there didn't seem to be anyone running the show.
4. Indeed, you could compare them to the support. While there were moments when the Wesley support posse was as mad and bad as ever, there were long periods of the game when they were virtually mute. There didn't appear to be any one person leading and co-ordinating the support.
5.None of this should take anything away from the boys who gave it their all. We were the better side on the day and had at least five clear try-scoring opprotunities. We also passed up three very kickable penalties in our quest to score the points we needed to go through.
It just wasn't to be. Still this team, bolstered by some new talent, has the potential to do us proud next year. Just a matter now of developing the technique, discipline, fitness, desire and humility that you need to win the big games.
Wesley College 1st XV v Rotorua BHS 1st XV
Date: 29/8/06
Venue: WTC - Chiefs Championship Round 2
The match against Rotorua BHS would decide which side (Hamilton, Rotorua or Wesley) would progress through to the Top Four as the Chiefs' representative after Rotorua upset Hamilton BHS on Saturday. For Wesley to progress we needed to win by a 16+ margin, while Rotorua just needed a draw or a win. If Wesley won by less than 16 points, then Hamilton would go through.
Earlier in the year, Wesley and Rotorua had fought out a 13-all draw and this game would be another tense and exciting affair.
Rotorua take the lead after 15 minutes when a clearing kick is charged down by a (shockingly offside - ed) player who regathers the ball to score. His(unjust - ed) try is converted - Rotorua lead 7-0.
Wesley respond quickly and come close to scoring. They are able to keep Rotorua pinned in their 22 and five minutes later, from a scrum ,the ball is spun out to Heremaia Pene at second-five who slices through the Rotorua backline and scores by the posts. Hooker Sione Anai’alangi converts and it's 7-7. From the restart, Wesley make inroads and then Tino Halalilo throws a long pass out to the rampaging No.8 John Sikuea who breaks through the defence, draws in the last defender, then offloads to David Raikuna who scores in the corner. 12-7 to Wesley. And the end of the first half.
The second half sees Wesley placed under early pressure. Rotorua respond quickly and pass the ball along the line to score in the corner - 12-12. The remainder of the half sees Wesley make several scorching breaks but desperate defence keeps us at bay. Rotorua withstand this pressure and as the clock runs down so does the opportunity to achieve the required margin. Rotorua then move the Wesley side back into our 22 and with a minute remaining halfback Vuga Tagicakibau suffers a serious injury which sees the match end. For the second time this year both sides finish a titanic battle with a draw.
C.W.Bean
**
You may have noticed a few editorial "improvements" to Chris Bean's above report. A few (more) observations from the sideline:
1. Wesley's 1st XV has performed far better than anyone predicted at the start of the season. This was a young and inexperienced side with only four players returning from the powerful '04-'05 team.
2. Having said that, the team's rapid improvement heightened expectations amongst supporters. This team, on its day, was as good as any in the country. But they seemed to lose their way towards the business end of the season.
3. One obvious reason for this was the loss of captain Pomana Taniwha (off in Hawaii on scholarship). Without Taniwha and other key players such as 2nd-five Kingi, we lacked leadership. While old hands like Asa Lehauli did their best, there didn't seem to be anyone running the show.
4. Indeed, you could compare them to the support. While there were moments when the Wesley support posse was as mad and bad as ever, there were long periods of the game when they were virtually mute. There didn't appear to be any one person leading and co-ordinating the support.
5.None of this should take anything away from the boys who gave it their all. We were the better side on the day and had at least five clear try-scoring opprotunities. We also passed up three very kickable penalties in our quest to score the points we needed to go through.
It just wasn't to be. Still this team, bolstered by some new talent, has the potential to do us proud next year. Just a matter now of developing the technique, discipline, fitness, desire and humility that you need to win the big games.
posted by Commander at 4:51 pm
3 Comments:
The loss to Rotorua and Hamilton showed the simple flaw in the Wesley side. They showed no leadership and no players with any rugby brains. They created enough opportunities to win both games but how often did the player try and do the old Wesley thing of trying to runn over the top of the opposition players rather than pass to unmarked players. Real dumb dumb dumb In hindsight Uini could and should have been captain he has a real rugby brain and brilliant captain of the u15's last year. Although it is fair to say his attitude needs improve
It was olny after Po left that we realsie how good a player and leader he was. But his experirence on the exchange will only improve him as a player and Head prefect next year. He was let doen by some staff and that was the only reason he was not at the rugby for the business end of the season.
to this other mr Anonymous all you seem to have for these boys is put downs about the way they try and show their skills off when i bet you couldnt do much of a better job yourself alot of tallent and leadership returning next year is that not something to look foward to?? and how can you say at this point in time who your prefects are going to be for next year when at the rate your schools going most kids would rather be in a safer environment at some other school that helps mould better tallent with life skills and education!!!!
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