Rams Improve But Fall to Bulls
On the back of another strong forward display University powered to a 36 to 26 win over the Camden Rams at University Oval in their IDRU Builders Club Premiership match on Saturday. A very entertaining first forty minutes saw each side score two tries. With both sides playing with flare and pace, Uni went to the break 15 – 14 up.
The Bulls took a stranglehold on the match
Scoring two converted tries in the first twenty five minutes of the second half before Yellow Card trouble struck. In somewhat of a farcical situation Uni lost three players to the sin bin in the last fifteen minutes of the match as the Rams poured on the pressure at the Bulls line. Referee Craig Conway, dispatched three Bulls players for repeated infringements which saw them play sections of the final fifteen minutes two players down. The Camden effort showed that they are not about to go down in this year’s title race just yet, showing glimpses of the form that took them to last year’s title.
With Uni looking the side most likely to score first, play moved from end to end at pace, but it was Camden who eventually posted first points at the 12 minute mark. Flanker Aaron Loxley caught the Bulls defense off guard and raced clear forty meters out and found speedy winger Faaluiila Tuaoi in support who positioned fullback Mark June for a clear run to the line. Ben Greentree converted for the Rams to go to a 7 points to nil lead.
Seven minutes later a Uni backline raid saw Reuben
Thompson break away down the left side and when it looked like play would break down, No.8 Paul Tuala positioned himself well in support on the inside to score Uni’s first points. Leon Mason kicked his first goal for the day to even the scores at 7 – 7.
One of the stars of the Rams 2013 Premiership side Mark Nightingale took the field as a replacement as the Uni try was being converted. Six minutes later, he found himself in the Bin after being deemed to have deliberately collapsed a maul by Referee Conway, leaving Camden one man down. From the ensuing penalty, Leon Mason kicked a penalty goal for Uni to take the lead 10 – 7.
Despite being short handed, it was
Camden that scored next when skipper Gavin Holder broke from a driving maul to score at the thirty third minute mark, and with Greentree’s conversion the Rams took back the lead 14 – 10.
Uni front rower Karl Smith added to his try scoring tally for the year when he finished off a smart passing raid to score out wide, for Uni to take a one point margin into the break.
At the fifty five minute mark Paul
Tuala backed up for another inside pass after a Uni scrum win to score a strong try, which was converted by Mason and Uni led 22 – 14. Ten minutes later Bulls, fullback Chris Miller, who was a constant threat with his electrifying running from the back, created space for flanker Wayne Ngatai, who raced forty meters to score. Another conversion from Leon Mason and Uni were out by 15 and looking in control at 29 – 14.
Camden were not ready to concede this match just yet and mounted several strong raids on the Uni line. After a succession of penalties to Camden at the Uni line, Uni hooker Hemana Wickliffe was sin binned. Within a minute of the binning the Camden pressure was rewarded when hardworking front rower Mark Minter barged over to score and give Camden some hope of victory, with the margin down to 10.
Two minutes later Miller was in the game again when
On a kick return, he cleverly made space for Rapine Mason to race away and score. With Leon Mason’s conversion, Uni were out to an unassailable 36 – 19 lead.
With less than ten minutes left in the match Uni replacement James Read joined Wickliffe in the bin, again for repeated infringements. From the penalty tap restart of play Aaron Loxley scored a converted try for Camden reducing the margin to 10. Five minutes later Paul Tuala received the games fourth yellow card and spent the last two minutes of the match on the sideline with Read.
With forwards Holder
Minter and Loxley having strong games for the Rams, and the return to the field of Mark Nightingale, the signs were there that Camden are still very much capable of playing a major role in this year’s comp. Halfback Penisula Ben Leaupepe added poise to the side and with Ben Greetree back at his more comfortable role at No.10 the Rams had much better direction.
Once again the Bulls forwards were very strong at the set piece and breakdown with their scrum again pushing their opponents off the ball several times. Paul Tuala was very busy throughout, with his work at the breakdown outstanding. After several years away from the Illawarra Rugby scene Chris Miller showed that he is very capable of inflicting any amount of damage to the best defense that any of his opponents can muster.