Notices

Welcome to the 2016 Rugby Season. A good swag of results at the weekend, with the Tigers luckily saving the day for the coaches (there is a long standing tradition of a certain reward being offered for a clean sweep of results). It was great to see the clubrooms packed on Saturday for speeches – lets keep that up for the rest of the season.

Just a few housekeeping issues – teams on bar duty need to make sure they read the instructions posted behind the bar. Please make sure the glassware goes in the steriliser and then gets put away. No crates across the bar (bottles only), bottle caps go in one of the plastic jugs and definitely no drinking while on bar duty. You are also not allowed to bring alcohol in to the clubrooms. If you have a court session/initiations etc please make sure it goes straight into the shed or store it in someone’s car as this is a requirement of our liquor license. Please also note that only food bought in the clubrooms may be consumed in the clubrooms. All the profits from the food go towards prize-giving so please give the kitchen your support. Like the people on bar duty, they work for free.

On that note, we are still on the lookout for more people to do their bar managers license. It consists of an online course and a test, and the club will pay half the fee for you. Get in touch with our Chairman Les Black if you are keen to do this.

The Tigers will be passing the hat around the clubrooms as one of their players suffered a bad neck injury on Saturday, and will be off work for a while with a young family to support. Please bring some loose change with you.

Events

 Duty

Bar Duty Team: Div 2

Bar Manager: Kieran Howden

Lock Up  : Ross Callon

Match Reports

Div 1

11 – 22 Win vs Shirley

This week’s Div 1 Report is brought to you by Caleb Aperahama.

Sheldon Park was the setting for our first regular season game versus Shirley. It had been a good preseason with a good trip to Melbourne which resulted in a good win over Melbourne University and some team bonding time. The build up to this game had been good and was looked at as our first chance to make a statement for the year. With Multiple debuts on the cards and the chance to play next to world class fullback, Israel Dagg, the boys were hissing. Unlike last year, we didn’t start slow but did play defence for long passages of play during the first half. But when we did have to ball it tend to result in points with the first try coming off the back of some good ball play and line running with the try in the corner to Brad Hemopo. The second was a quick tap with Izzy Dagg getting his hands on it early to cut Shirley’s defence to bits scoring under the posts. The next was just another classic “Isaac Leota” into contact with the classy offload for an easy try for Caleb Aperahama. The second half rolled on with a change of tides in the way of possession. Execution and handling errors began to sneak in but a change in personnel brought the team back to life with Conor O’Leary getting his first meat pie for the vipers thanks to a shunt from Marty Swaffield from behind. Shirley managed to score a lucky try but claim it. Only other events to occur was Daniel “Butter Fingers” Barr dropping an absolute sitter to fumble a guarantee try in the corner.

Player of the Day: Morgyn “Boomtown” Cowan

Women

55 – 10 Win vs HSOB

Nicole “Poss” Purdom was player of the day.

Div 2

19 – 33 Win vs Sumner

It had been almost 2 years since the Div 2 boys had last played Sumner. It had been many more countless seasons since the lads have kicked the season off with a W. The return from the easterly suburb was a happy one to jumpstart an optimistic start to the campaign, as UC Division 2 defeated Sumner 33-19.

After an abbreviated preseason, it could be expected that the game did not go to plan right from the start. Sumner’s large forward pack applied the pressure onto Uni, dominating the possession and territory in the first quarter. The lads put forth a valiant defense effort, especially on their own line to keep the opposition out early. However, it was Sumner that would cross the line first after a scrum penalty and resulting quick tap exposed holes around the ruck to allow their large tighthead to score.

However, this proved to be the wakeup call the UC Yams needed. The team started to gain possession, and though simple handling errors and passes went astray left opportunities begging, the team began to show a greater attacking prowess than their opposition. The precision kicking of second five Henry Boon exploited the space behind the Sumner back three all afternoon, allowing a strong chase line to force Sumner to kick for touch on countless occasions.

The lineout had to be the marquee feature for the Yams all day, with locks Ngarongo Selby-Rickitt and Torin Rensford dominating in the air. This laid a strong platform for the backline, being able to exploit distance outside. After strong runs from both wingers Jonty Nesbitt and Andrew Maebiru, Henry Boone went over for the Yams first try of the season. Fullback Chris Lines made no mistake slotting over the conversion; effective all day with the goal kicking duties going 4 from 5. The Yams went right back on attack and following a devastating break by newly crowned captain, Jamie Verstappen which had the entire bench on their feet, scrumhalf Jaden ‘Wally’ Wallace scored just to the left of the post. This brought the score to 14-7 at half.

The talk at half was productive, with the emphasis being on increasing the communication on the defensive side, while being patient with the pill on attack. Again, the Yams put this chat to use early with the wind at their backs, as Henry Boon got a double following early sustained pressure; this time in the left corner. Sumner would answer back quickly though following multiple ruck penalties, bringing the scores to 19-12. However, this was as close as it would get for Sumner.

Reinforcements off the bench came on and did their jobs brilliantly, adding some fresh legs and flair to the game. Flanker Kieran Howden got into his work early, getting under the skin of a number of the larger members of the Sumner side and some ill discipline and hot heads would cost the opposition. A stable and balanced scrum push and strong running from centre Oscar Nesbitt set up the fourth try to reserve lock Jonty Duncan, whose athleticism, elusive step and lengthy reach helped dot it down. Soon after, another Yam debutant Josh Westland showed his brood strength, being practically unstoppable, running over a couple of defenders in what can only be a sign of the first of many tries to come for the young fella at this grade. Sumner scored late, but the damage was well and truly already done.

There are plenty of new faces in this young and exciting squad this year as the team looks to improve on their fourth place finish in 2015. The team has also ‘officially’ adopted the new name of the ‘Yams’, though the origins are still unknown. Taking over from club stalwart Andy Ireland, new captain Jamie Verstappen was optimistic of the start, stating “there’s plenty to build on; will definitely be one to watch this season”. Coach Jared ‘Bricky’ Brixton, not dressing for the Yams (at least to start the year) felt the boys settled well into their work, pointing out that “the returning Henry Boon settled the backline and it was great to see new captain Jew get a win first up. A great start to the season”.

Special mention goes to club debutant Marcus Hendriks and Kensei Kobayashi for carrying heavy workloads around the field and strong scrummaging performances. Scrumhalf ‘Wally’ Wallace looked to take up the mantel left behind by Brett Menefy, and was everywhere on the field. The back three of Nesbitt, Maebiru and Lines made timely line breaks and overall outplayed their three counterparts around the pitch.

‘Bazza Menefy’ Player’s Man of the Match: Tom Paton who had an incredibly brave performance, leaving it all on the pitch with countless strong carries and numerous steals at ruck time on the defensive side

Div 3

36 – 5 Loss to Marist Albion Beacons

This report is brought to you by Sef Erasito.

It was good to get the season underway after battling hard during the summer pre-season. It wasn’t the result we wanted to start with, going down 36 – 5 to last years finalists Marist beacons. It was going to be an uphill battle to begin with, having half our backline away with injuries and other obligations, but we managed to front up and we found a kicking game that helped to the forwards benefit.

All our debutants had a massive game and we certainly hoped they enjoyed playing wearing the Tigers colours. Best parts of the game were Tonga “Little Tonga” Aleamotua and Vainikolo “Big Tonga” Kauvaka with ball in hand charging down the field, lining up Marist’s biggest player and causing mini earthquakes; their work off the ball was just as effective, clearing rucks with ease.  We played well in patches with a dominant scrum through most of the game and were unlucky not to have a couple of chances go our way. We scored the last try of the game after a stunning break put move by the backs resulted in the evergreen Ethan Harrison dotting down in the corner with about five minutes to play.

The low light of the game wasn’t the loss but having Jonny Baird suffering a serious neck injury and being taken away to hospital. The latest update is that he’s still in hospital but he’s doing well after successful surgery to repair two dislocated vertebrae. It’s a scary reminder of how dangerous this game can be. But we play because we love rugby so be safe out there on fields. Our thoughts and prayers are with JB and his family and we hope for a speedy recovery.

Player of the day was Adam “Soda” Walker for some silky smooth moves at first five eighths.

Colts Prem

18 – 12 win vs Shirley

This report is brought to you by Ben Costley.

The Varsity Premier Colts had a scintillating start to the season winning against Shirley 18-12 in a classic home game derby. The Pythons raced out to a 10-0 lead through the steady boot of Cullen Simpson as well as the speed and poetry in motion of the backline that allowed Tauli Aperaamo to dot down in the corner. The scoring ceased for the rest of the first half but after a quick half-time prep talk, we entered the second half similarly to the first when Josh Proctor crashed over the line after a steady build-up of phases and pressure. Through the last quarter of the game, Shirley managed to sneak in a couple of tries to narrow down the margin but it was Varsity who were winners on the day.

Player of the day goes to Harry Ferguson for his outstanding work-rate at flanker which resembled that of none other than Richie McCaw even though he had his try disallowed and then managed to get penalized afterwards.

Colts

0 – 34 Win vs New Brighton

This report is brought to you by Kieran Hunt.

In the first round of the 2016 season the UC Colts Reserves headed out to the beach to face the New Brighton Colts Reserves in challenging conditions. The handling errors and stop start play in the first 15 minutes made it hard to find momentum. We dominated in territory, possession and especially in scrums, however struggled to convert the pressure into points. The first try of the season came from a midfield break from Trent Tipene, showing his classy footwork, who put Harrison McPhail away to score 15m out from the posts, 7-0. From here the ‘battle snakes’ were able to put the pressure on running in four more unanswered tries in the first half, going up 29-0 at the break. In the second half the game was played at a higher standard from both teams with New Brighton upping their defence, only allowing one superb try from Xavier Bartlett.

Final score 34-0, and a well deserved player of the day award to second five-eighth, Trent Tipene