Notices

Bar service and who’s allowed on the premises

Those of you in the clubrooms on Saturday night will have noticed our visit from the license inspector. They were happy with how things were in the clubrooms but did advise us that we need to brush up a bit on some of our procedures, especially around who is on-site. In a nutshell:

People allowed in the clubrooms:

• Members of UCRFC (who should be carrying a membership card). If they have lost or misplaced it please check the list above the sound system.
• Members of UC Netball (who should also be carrying a membership card).
• Members of other rugby clubs as we all have reciprocal visiting rights courtesy of being affiliated to the CRFU.
• Members of other affiliated clubs with reciprocal visiting rights
• Anyone else on the premises needs to be a guest of a member of UCRFC or UC Netball, and SIGNED IN to the visitors book as such, including which club member signed them in.

Please do not be offended if you are asked for your membership card. If you haven’t received one, or have lost yours, please contact me urgently on crisbridger@gmail.com so I can arrange one for Saturday.

Events

Team Photos – Thursday 21st July (pencilled in, yet to be fully confirmed)

30th July – Beer Pong

Duty

Bar Manager – Mark Meates

Lock Up – Lofty

Duty Team – Women

Match Reports

Div 1 – courtesy of the CRFU website

At Ilam Fields: University 41 (Brad Hemopo 2, James Lentjes 2, Tailah Love, Morgyn Cowan tries; Brad Hemopo 4 conv; pen) beat Marist Albion 17 (Tom Reekie, Rowan O’Gorman tries; Tom Reekie 2 conv, pen). HT: 15-10. Referee: Kane McBride. Sin-bin: Matt Morrison (Marist Albion).

A strong second-half performance helped University see off a spirited challenge from Marist Albion at Ilam Fields.

With Marist Albion trailing by 27-17 after 60min, the game was still on as a contest. In the last 20min though, University pulled away from the visitors, scoring two tries to put the game well out of reach.

University started the game like they finished it, with complete control in the territory and possession stakes. For the first quarter of the match, Marist Albion struggled to get out of their own half.

Every time they tried to clear their lines, University pegged them back near their own goal-line, with fullback Matt Farrant displaying some clever tactical kicking.

When University did eventually launch a counter-attack, they did so with devastating effect.

Following a clearing kick from Marist Albion, second-five Brad Hemopo found a half-gap in the Marist Albion defence. Openside flanker James Lentjes showed superb timing to collect the offload and then set up wing Tailah Love for a try in the right-hand corner.

While at that stage the score was only 8-3 to University, it looked very much like they might run away with the game.

Marist Albion had other ideas however. When they finally did manage to get an attacking opportunity close to the line, they were clinical in their execution.

After 32min, Marist Albion second-five Tom Reekie took advantage of some soft University defence, breaking the line with a left-foot step and dotting down under the posts. With the successful conversion from Reekie, Marist Albion took an unlikely 10-8 lead.

It was a short-lived though, with Lentjes scoring for University from a pick-and-go to bring the scores to 15-10 on the stroke of half-time.

The second-half started badly for the visitors, with hooker Matt Morrison sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous lifting tackle after 41min.

University soon capitalised on their one-man advantage, utilising an overlap to send Hemopo in for a try in the left-hand corner.

When Lentjes scored his second try from close range on the 55min mark, University were up by 27-10 and were again threatening to run away with the game.

Marist Albion responded to the challenge though, with reserve hooker Rowan O’Gorman burrowing over the line to bring the scores to 27-17.

The final quarter of the match proved a bridge too far for the visitors however. Taking advantage of a tiring Marist Albion defence, University put the match beyond doubt with tries to Hemopo and reserve flanker Morgyn Cowan.

For University, there were several standout players. At halfback, Finlay Christie continued his excellent form, providing a great platform with his crisp passing. Hemopo was a dominant force at second-five, with the converted No.8 keeping the Marist defence on the back foot with his powerful running game.

Lentjes was the pick of the University players however, with the openside flanker scoring two tries and making some dynamic plays on both attack and defence.

Flanker Charlie Gamble had a strong game for Marist Albion, breaking the line on multiple occasions with his hard running, and putting in some heavy tackles on defence.

Second-five Reekie was Marist Albion’s best back, combining a good kicking display with some elusive running in the midfield.

Women – courtesy of Sophie Anderson

Div 2 – Courtesy of Justin Rafton

Much like veteran Craig Smithy’s beloved Warriors, the mighty Yams broke their slump by earning a hard-fought and valuable victory over Linwood, 26-22. It was an absolute stunner on Linfield Park for this Queens Birthday; a perfect track for the running footy the Yams wish to pursue. Coach Jared Brixton made a number of changes to the team, bringing some fresh blood into the starting XV and even naming himself on the bench, a record fourth time out of ‘retirement’. However, a lack of training during the week due to poor weather conditions was evident early, as diminished communication on both sides of the coin led to Linwood scoring two tries.

Lucky for the Varsity boys though, the opposing first five who was deadly with ball in hand, could not hit the broadside of a barn door with his boot. Down 0-10 the Yams seemed to wake up in the second 20, applying all the pressure in the opposing 22. Scrumhalf Takumi Kawahara provided good pill under tough ruck time conditions. Both wingers again shone in this expansive pattern that Varsity was applying against a sluggish Linwod defensive line; Dan Hyndman and Hamish Paterson both made metres, with the latter just needing to hold his width and back his pace a little more to find reward. Opportunity continued to amount for Uni and after numerous penalties, were awarded with a kickable penalty; an easy three for surefooted first five Benjamin Fox. After a controlled take from the following kickoff, fullback Jonty Nesbitt spotted a gap making metres deep into Linwood’s end; a short passage later, Hyndman dove over in the right corner. Foxys would nail that conversion and another penalty as the half ended.

Talk was all positive at half, with the team looking to only build on that lead. Again the Yams drew the upper hand early, attacking deep and drawing a yellow card for a high tackle. It was all going to plan until Foxy crashed the ball and himself awkwardly, having to leave the field injured. Replacements scrummy Jaden Wallace and first five Jamie Newman then exchanged missed penalties leaving points begging, before Newman finally found his rhythm, adding two more penalties himself for the day. Varsity did not make it easy on themselves though. Defensive lapses and kickoff miscues allowed Linwood to score tries and stay in the game.

It was not until late when the Yams took destiny into their own hands, and scored a try five metres out; multiple hands seemed to score after Wally’s quick thinking quick tap however it was reported to go to lock Jonty Nesbitt. The Yams look to build on this win and keep this momentum rolling. Special mention has to go to lock Jonty Nesbitt and eight Kazuma Udagawa for strong running up the guts, effective rucking and being workhorses defensively. The midfield duo of Oscar Nesbitt and Jack Dodd Niven made space for those around them, and metres with ball in hand. New recruit Joseph George-Alleyne especially looked dangerous with space and tons of pace to burn on the outside.

Brett Menefy Players’ Man of the Match: Dan Hyndman, devastating on the wing, scoring a stellar individual try and continues to build week in and week out.

Colts Prem – Courtesy of Matt Little

It was a disappointing result for the Prem Colts this week. Despite getting up and scoring the first early points we were on the back foot for a lot of the game due to some slick Christchurch attack. Some impressive man-on defence from our forwards and mid-field saved us on a number of occasions but on Saturday we were witness to some very impressive footy from the Christchurch team. While our set-pieces were impressive and led well by our inspirational skipper Harry Ferguson, some classy moves from the Christchurch backline and some soft defence exposed us out wide leading to a number of tries. We took away a great deal of lessons from the game which we will reflect on and hope to improve for our next big game. Player of the day went to Kyle Bosselmann for his outstanding defensive efforts.

Div 3 Tigers

No game due to Queen’s Birthday weekend

Colts – Courtesy of Sefton Mason

The Colts played Sumner this weekend. Unlike last week the weather provided a sunny day which allowed us to use the width of the field and play some running footy. The majority of the game the forwards dominated the match. Winning the oppositions set piece and holding the scrums up and also securing the rucks. Good use of territory through the boot of Kieran Hunt sending us back down to their half with penalties and territorial kicks. From small errors in the game that the ref was ruling on quite harshly. Being minimal off sides and problems with some players keeping their mouth guards in. Really put us in an disadvantage.

Getting two of our players sin binned with a yellow cards in the first half. This didn’t stop the colts determination with strong defiance working hard to retain the ball possession. Ending up scoring whilst down to thirteen players. The use of effective communication on defence and attack allowed us to capitalise on holes and gaps in the defence. The sense of urgency the forwards showed in the oppositions 22 and securing rucks was formidable. The addition of Kieran hunt proving to be an asset to the team. Slicing through Sumners defence to score under the posts. Allowing the backs to spread the ball to our well paced winger Kyle fern scoring a very nice try down the sideline. (Kyle Fearn also securing player of the day). The work effort slowed down a bit near the end of the game.

But the hard work from the whole team put in throughout the game led us to secure a 34 – 8 win over Sumner