4º vs Waimea

Torna-se "inutil" se eu a escrever, visto que escrevem tanto sobre nós, St.Bede's... Ahah

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St Bede's send out warning

Story by: Marc Palmano / Shuttersport - Photo by: Marc Palmano / Shuttersport

It didn't start well for Waimea.

In an unusual move referee Andy Malcolm awarded a penalty to St Bedes before the ball had even been kicked. Spectators were bemused and bewildered as St.Bedes started the game with a punt into touch. The reason for the penalty: Waimea were late on parade despite being instructed to be on the pitch five minutes before kick-off. And just to rub it in St Bede's went onto score adjacent to the posts from the resultant lineout but not before both sides had each turned over the ball.

Waimea battled back but were unable to make much headway into a stern St. Bede's defence, who were at times playing on the edge and guilty of a series of midfield infringements that handed Waimea the chance to open their account. Luca Roden's first long range attempt from the visitors 10m line and midway centre and touchline ran out of legs clipping the left-hand post below the crossbar. The second 4 minutes later, from a similar field positon albeit a bit more central and a few metres further back, was well struck but conspired to strike the right hand post. Roll the clock on another 4 minutes and Luca is lining up another long one, this time dead central, and having had his two sighters he pinged this one right down the middle to give Waimea a glimpse of hope.

With the restart going directly into touch, Waimea were able to get straight back on the offensive and from their own scrum ball Riley made a good break down the right hand side. St. Bede's again were guilty of an indescretion, this time 'going to early' was the call form the whistle man. Roden stepped up to slot the penalty from the 22m line and 15m in from touch bringing Waimea back to 7-6.

The local side's comeback proved very brief as St. Bedes were starting to out muscle their hosts and appeared to have crossed for their second try only for it to be ruled as held up. From the resulting 5m scrum St. Bede's able halfback Joe Berry used his height to twist in the tackle and dot down.

Disturbingly for the Waimea faithfull there were signs St. Bedes were now settling into the game and their larger pack were starting to gain dominance giving their slick inside backs the chance to display their skills. This was evident just 3 minutes later when following a several pick and go phases their inside centre Kiko was releasd and found room to burst through a gap from just inside the Waimea 22m to score in a handy position. The conversion was added to stretch their lead to 21-6. St. Bede's were able to demonstrate their dominance further when they scored again this time down the left flank after Waimea had handed them a great attacking opportunity within their own 22m following a forward pass.

Waimea, now trailing 28-6, spent the last period of the first half in St. Bede's territory but the Christchurch side were able to repel their attempts to cross the line with their only scorin chance through the boot of Luca Roden with another long range penalty attempt which struck a post yet again.

The penalty count against the southern side increased again early in the second spell, but this time Waimea elected to go for touch from the St. Bede's 10m line but the Waimea attack petered out. No more than six minutes in St. Bede's took a strangle-hold on the game, and through some fast recyling and speed of foot they set up a try on their right-hand side whaich was again converted.

It was looking pretty bleak for Waimea who were were giving there all to repel the waves of St. Bede's pressure but it came as no surprise when No.8 Vasco Fragoso-Mendes crashed over under the posts. Leading 42-6 St. Bede's were now totally in control and when a misplaced Waimea penalty didn't find touch St.Bedes having moved the ball right, came back across the paddock to score on the wide left.

That Waimea elected to take tap penalty inside their own 22 was probably testamanet to the fact that they were struggling to secure their own lineout ball. The turnover count was also starting to grow against Waimea and some kamakazi defending within their own 22 led to Fragoso-Mendes' second try, with the conversion taking the visitors past the 50 mark, to 54-6.

The home support at least had something to cheer for in the last five as the local lads mounted a series of thrusts at the visitors line, the desperation showing on their faces, but even with the aid of a tap penalty advanced twice towrad the line due to the visitors failing to retire 10m, Waimea couldn't breach the St. Bede's defence.

Final score: Waimea College 6 v St. Bedes College 54"

Fotografias aqui