One Way Traffic

A poor weather forecast did not eventuate and Ravens and The Tricolors assembled to establish bragging rights in both Div 1 and Prems Rugby. The First Div game saw Ravens stalwart, Benz Hendrickson, trundle over for the opening score but that was really all of the Jericho shine in this one. CW tied it up and as the wind played havoc, balls were dropped and it was all pretty scrappy. Teams went to the interval tied.

It was as if a wand had been waved over the hosts at the break as Omar Thomas opened the second half early with one of his most electrifying efforts witnessed at Windsor, going 30 meters, posting, turning and fending for a good try. The flood-gates then opened as six other tallies followed in a display of good, sensible, rugby under the conditions. Players ran hard and straight, passed well, and aligned so as to run onto the ball, all aspects that we were not see again from the home club on this afternoon. A late UBCOB try, saw the final score, 48 – 10 for CW, creeping them out of sole possession as cellar dweller. Well done!

Must highlight a few performances – Hohort and Lamb were outstanding as tight forwards and loosies Carroll and Haight were very hard. I like Horton’s performance at #9 and he also showed to be a worthy sub for MacPherson in the Prems. Pritchard at #10 was value and set up good lines and hard running from Gudgeon, Thomas, Kelly and Mosher. Old master, Paul Buckley, with a little edge of speed missing, rounded it out. A good team game.

The Tricolors Premier squad enacted a train wreck as the Raven, offensively and defensively inflicted a shellacking! Ravens had 17 points on the board under ten minutes. Lineout strength went awry as four in a row were spilled and another Old Boys tally was chalked. CW errors just compounded. CW offered ten minutes of resistance, but with heads low, was mastered well before the spell, 0 – 31.

The second half saw the sides saw-off 17 – 17 although the pedal had clearly been lifted by the Ravens and CW’s tries came late. There were some spells of better effort from the hosts and sustained recycles but the Reds’ defense was well organised and the line was very difficult to cross. Final score 48 – 17 for Ravens in what ended a rainbow parade of cards (two reds, four yellows). For the hosts, balls were bobbled in contact, deflected in lineouts and errantly offered for three intercepts (two resulting in tries at critical stages). The few glimmers came from set scrummaging (a couple of tight heads), sincere slogging from Thornber, Oliver and Ilnicki and Frisby, the pick of the backs. I recognise Albornoz as CW’s MoM. Lucas is getting better each week.

Kudos to Ravens player-coach, Tom Luke (#10), not only for his personal contribution (and clever Academy on high tackle ), but primarily for the preparation of his boys for today’s encounter. It was easy to see how this team beat The Birds. They were harder in the loose and overall much hungrier, scoring eight tries, speedster, Sean Ferguson notching his hat trick. Full value for the win, to Ravens enabling them to close in on Rowers. CW face The Vikes at home next Saturday. All of The Reds played well but I give my nod to Skipper, Tom McKeen who led by example, shirking no challenge.