A probing grubber in-behind from fullback Harry Wilson was backed up by an eager kick-chase that saw Souths pinned on their own goal line, and a rushed exit kick from Moseley charged down by a rampaging Ed Craig. Lachlan Shelley dives home in style for the opening try – Photo: Serge Gonzalezĭespite their best efforts, it was perhaps no surprise given the possession and territory stakes that the Woodies finally broke through in the 13th minute. One particular clash, as bulwarking Eastwood centre Enoki Muliufi hit up a crash ball straight into the no.10 channel of Souths debutant Liam Moseley, would have been heard on the other side of Tom Ugly’s Bridge, such was the thunderclap of flesh and bone on impact. The physicality of the early stages was a level above that normally found in the opening round of a season, as the pent-up aggression forged from isolation, lockdown and a three-month absence of footy, was unleashed with gusto. Momentum stayed with the Woods, and it took some starchy defence from the well-drilled Rebels to hold out a barrage of ball carries. But when the ball was recycled for Tane Edmed out wide, the flyhalf was caught in two minds and Apaola Tea Lama jammed in superbly to force the ball into touch and keep the home line intact. The ensuing penalty was kicked to touch for a potent lineout drive, which ended just a couple of metres short. It took just a couple of minutes for the home side to forge a points-scoring opportunity, a dominant shove from the opening scrum winning a penalty, only for the normally reliable boot of Christian Kagiassis to push his effort wide of the uprights from just outside the 22.Ģ019 Shute Shield Rookie of the Year Michael Icely then had the visitor’s firmly on the front foot with ample evidence of his burgeoning potential, taking a neat offload from prop Jed Gillespie to tear a path past several Rebels up the sideline and feed back inside before Souths slowed the ball down illegally. And his fledgling side were pretty much as good as his word, fronting up physically and coming home with a wet sail to run out four tries-to three victors over a Woodies team that promised in patches but ultimately, had too little ball and made too many errors to hold off their eager hosts. Incoming head coach Todd Louden had promised the Rebels faithful that they would see a fit and feisty outfit donning the candy stripes in 2020.
CLICK HERE FOR POST-MATCH REACTION FROM TODD LOUDEN, BEN BATGER AND JAKE DOUGLASĪfter several months of frustrating delay in the wake of the admittedly far bigger picture of Covid-19, the Shute Shield made a welcome return at the weekend with a new-look Southern Districts downing Eastwood 34-19 at Forshaw Park.
0 kommentar(er)
