Sparked into Life

A year on from the Hutspottoernooi, BSN were back at DIOK.  They were no longer Benjis and there was no stew pot trophy to win, but there were games to be played against the home side and old rivals, HRC.

DIOK were first up and BSN eased into a 5-0 first half lead.  A pass from Alexander played in Louis on two occasions to score.  Jamie added another and nearly a second, but for a knock-on.  From the resulting scrum, DIOK kicked the ball back to William, who ran in the try.

Despite the first half lead, the BSN team were not playing with intensity.  It could have been the weather.  Clouds hung in the sky.  Heavy and humid.  The players were standing off, inviting one-man rugby.  No one was running onto the ball.  Passes were collected on flat feet.  When they did run, the runner would bring the ball back into the middle and slow down the play.

The second half started with a try.  Lachlan made a strong run to cross for the score  Another one of the forwards, Cammy, made another run, but was held up on the line.  But, DIOK were more in the game and BSN continued to be sleepy, apart from the forward play.  Joaquin and Cammy exchanged passes and nearly squeezed in, but the game ended without any more tries in the second half.

Next up were HRC’s first team, and the difference was stark.  BSN were two down at half time, with HRC scoring with the first and last move.  In between, BSN were under severe pressure, tackling hard to stay in the game.  William chased down the HRC winger to stop a try.  BSN were not making much with the ball, when they had it.

The first half woke the players from their slumber.  Joaquin made two strong runs on the wing and was unlucky to be dumped heavily out of play on the second run.  There was more energy and pressure from BSN.  William passed to Alexander, but the ball was lost with the try line waiting.  BSN turned over a ruck deep in the HRC half. Moritz got the ball away and William ran in for a try.  Now HRC were on the back foot.  BSN applied pressure and bundled the ball over the line from a HRC line out.  The try was given to even up the scores.  Thankfully, there was no TV replay available for HRC to challenge. Nevertheless, BSN had put in a super second half performance, full of intensity, and they fully deserved the 2-2 draw.

The final game was against HRC’s second team and BSN continued with their form from the end of the previous game.  4-1 up at half time, BSN had scored with a William pass out to the wing for Jamal to show his speed.  Louis added the second at a stretch.  A couple of opportunities with three man overlaps went begging, before BSN got it right and Louis coasted in for the last score of the half.

The energy levels dipped slightly in the second half, but Cammy added a fifth, before setting up Alexander for the sixth BSN try.  HRC ended the game with a consolation, as the match ended 6-2.

A good days rugby, made better for the tough second match with HRC.

Coaches: Daran, Scott, Manuel, Wayne

Player of the match: Cammy

Squad: Alexander, Andrea, Daniel, David, Duncan, Henry, Jamal, Jamie, Joaquin, Joseph, Josh, Lachlan, Leyla, Moritz, Nicholas, William