After a washed out game in round 10 – the boys from the Mighty B’s were keen to get back out on the park and play some rugby. We were meeting St Ives for the third time this season and back at the spiritual home of rugby – Boronia Park. We were confident of a good performance.

We had a strong training on Thursday night with the C’s joining us for some scrum practice under the guidance of “Legendary Larry Walker”. Our scrum has improved vastly each time Larry has given us some pointers and this was week was no exception. In fact I thought it was one of our best training runs for a while, which included some opposed work with the C’s which helped both teams. The only downer was finding out Adam and Hugo were not going to be available for the game – but such is life. Luckily we had plenty of able bodies willing to join the Mighty B’s and as such Joey. Layton, Cameron, James A, Paul and Alex R all lending their services for the night.

This turned out to be a very good thing too. Our C team was very short on players and the Mighty B’s were able to help them out with some reserves so as to field a full team. Showing true club spirit - Dan played the whole game with the C’s, whilst both Eddie (1st) and James R (2nd) gave service for half a game each. All these boys volunteered (as did some others as well) to forgo part or the whole of their own teams game to help out the C’s in their time of need and I’m very proud of this gesture.

Onto the game –

Our first half to be honest was really scrappy. Maybe it was the couple of weeks without a game, the new combinations or the conditions, but we were our own worst enemy. We spilt the ball a number of times and some of our cross field (read backwards) running was reminiscent of an under 6’s game. Our support play was there on a number of occasions but we failed to draw and pass. In saying that though, and I’m probably being a tad harsh, there were some highlights as well. * Our scrum was particularly solid, even with the changing of the back row around with the reserves every 6-8 mins. * The pressure I saw from the “rabbits” (James) on the opposing inside backs was really pleasing – forcing them backwards and into errors. * The defence was great - at no stage did St Ives look like pressuring our line. * Jake’s charge to the line from a penalty looked particularly great.

We saw Harry (whom had a number of good runs) cross out wide in the 6th min to open the scoring, and a missed kick saw us lead 5-0. James Rennie crossed soon after, again out wide, and we lead 10-0. In the 14th min Cameron extended the lead, scoring under the posts and Max knocked his first kick of the year over to have us at 17-0, which was the half time score.

I think the boys were a tad shocked when I told them how disappointed I was with our first half effort, I know we held a lead, but our execution was well down on what we can do. Their second half effort proved that they can listen, and they lifted a gear or maybe even two. With James R moving to the C’s game and Eddie returning we used all our reserves as backrowers in the second half. Noticeably our backline seemed to gel more efficiently with it’s regular combinations – so maybe I was a bit to harsh in my view of our first half effort, considering the changes we had made.

It took not even a minute for us to attack the line as Eddie was forced into touch a metre or two out from the try line. In the 2nd minute James A was over out wide, kick unsuccessful and it was 22-0. To prove it wasn’t a fluke James A was over again in the 4th minute, under the posts, and with a successful kick it was 29-0. Two minutes later Alex Crotti scored and Harry very nearly kicked it from out wide, 34-0. Another 2 mins, and what was my favourite try of the match, saw Paul on a break and find Tom (supporting up the middle) with a great pass to charge over under the sticks, another conversion and suddenly it was 41-0.

Some solid play came soon after this with many good runs from both forwards and backs alike. Still we dominated and St Ives seemed to have no answers. Cameron again found the line in the 14th minute and another conversion saw it 48-0. Soon after was a period of play I must mention. We were awarded a penalty and Eddie took the tap with the entire pack around him ready to charge – to my surprise he gave it to our smallest man (Sam) whom charged into the opposition with great vigor. Another penalty soon after and someone (not sure who?) bellowed “don’t give it to Sam – give it to a big bloke” – needless to say Sam scored out wide on the very next play. All that was heard was, and I quote “I told you to give it to Sam”. The kick was unsuccessful and that was the final score, 53-0

I was really pleased with the second half effort, highlights I can recall include. * Enormous charges with the ball by Alex C, Tom, Harry and Max. * The cleanout by a committed pack of forwards. * Some of our moves including “dinosaur” and “rooster” which were executed brilliantly, both nearly leading to immediate tries. * Sam and a few little darts up the blind. *Defence, Defence, Defence – it was good. * The attempted inside ball from 5/8 to half, it went forward and didn’t work, but showed me the boys are thinking. * Effort from everyone – simply great.

To top off the win, we then found out the C’s also had a victory which made the efforts by all seem well worth it. I must thank all the boys whom filled in for us, each got a decent run and are always welcome back - might have to learn the words to the Mighty B’s anthem though. Another outstanding rendition echoed throughout Hunters Hill last night.

Best and Fairest points were awarded this week, but not announced as we are taking them under cover for the last few weeks – similar to the Dally M awards in rugby league – but ours are obviously more prestigious.

Training is on each Thursday during the holidays for those whom are around. Our next game is the make-up game against Manly on the 18th July. I know some are away (Jake, Dan, Harry) if anyone else can’t make it please let me know. I already have had some reserved indicate that they are available which is greatly appreciated.

Final Score ; Hunters Hill 53 (Tries – Cameron x 2, James A x 2, Harry, James R, Sam, Alex C, Tom. Conversions – Eddie 3/4, Max 1/2, Harry 0/3) bt St Ives 0.

Till next week

Yours in Rugby

Caoch Ben