From The Sideline - Round 14- Ballina vs Lismore.
I found it unsettling to imagine the fields and clubhouse at Rugby Road Lismore having been five metres underwater earlier this year. To their credit the Lismore club has done a remarkable job in restoring their facilities, and a large crowd was in attendance on Saturday. I had a chat to Hic during the division II fixture between Lismore and Evans Head. I made the observation that in a disjointed season we had had four wins followed by four losses and then four weeks off. With four rounds remaining I ambitiously suggested that we need to remain undefeated for the next seven weeks, culminating in the grand final on September 10th. Our media savvy coach agreed and calmly assured me that if he has a full strength squad at his disposal and with average luck, it remains well within the realms of possibility. He mentioned pragmatically that unless we win the next four we don’t deserve to be playing semi final football. He is happy with the way things are falling in place and regards the away fixtures at Byron and Lennox as crucial to the team’s chances.
I took my position on the far side of the paddock and witnessed the best forty minutes of football our lads have produced this year. Things had fallen into place and we clicked. From the kick-off our pace, support play and finishing were outstanding and we crossed for tries in the 3rd 5th 13th 18th 22nd 25th and 31st minute from all parts of the paddock. Lismore scored from a tap penalty with seconds remaining before halftime and we went to the break with a 39-5 lead, having denied them any opportunity to become involved in the game.
Due to a poor batch of oranges the second half was played at a far more subdued pace and Lismore scored two well deserved tries in the 7th and 13th minutes, before Emori stepped through a tired defensive line in the 32nd minute resulting in a comprehensive 44-15 win. One down, six to go!
To summarise, Letty crossed three times, Semeli twice and Ants, Biscoe and Emori one apiece. A pathetic excuse about a baby pinching a kicking tee resulted in 2 from 8 conversions being successful. Our two best passages of play went unrewarded. In the 31st minute we attacked from our quarter with the ball passing through eight sets of hands. From the ensuing ruck the try was denied, Cookie correctly ruling an obstruction had occurred. In the 11th minute of the second half, Reuben Saric (Congratulations Reuben - well deserved) on his first grade debut chased and regathered a kick down the left side touchline. As the defence closed, he kicked infield and just failed to regather with the line wide open for what would have been the try of the year in my humble opinion. Rugby balls don’t always bounce in the expected manner.
Following a genuine all round team performance Hic awarded his points to Letty, Ants and Ryan Biscoe, while Letty was voted player’s player.
We congratulate Sam Pearce on his selection in the NSW Country Cockatoos squad. He will be sorely missed when rep duties call.
Our women’s team continue to improve and went down narrowly 19-17 against Range at home.
Supporters who fail to attend next Saturday’s match at Byron Bay will be frogmarched naked down River Street at 1000hrs on Monday August 8th. Let’s keep the countdown going!
