U16Bs win against DBP

After last week’s debacle of a loss to USRC Tigers—which left the coaching and management team so disgusted that not even a match report was forthcoming—this past weekend, Sandy Bay U16Bs thankfully returned to winning ways. The return was a timely reminder of what they were capable of, given that they were coming off the back of a run of three consecutive, and rather demoralizing, defeats.

This win against a strong DPB/FK combined team, however, did not come easy by any means. Even before the Sandy Bay U16Bs team took to the field they were dealt the body blow of three senior NAG-level players making themselves unavailable (not injury-related). If that were not enough, yet other players were unavailable for selection because they had not turned up to the previous Thursday evening’s training session. Combined, the absences meant a shallow bench of just three players. Finally, their opponents comprised of almost all older (2006-born) players.

Thankfully for Sandy Bay, the match started with them scoring within the first few minutes of the game. That score by big Donnacha Spencer—who was a tour de force right throughout the contest—certainly helped calm jittery nerves among the Sandy Bay contingent. Thereafter, the match was a tussle between two relatively evenly matched teams. Sandy Bay scored a second converted try (Matthew Chatting) before half-time to lead 12-0 at the interval.

Unfortunately, straight from the kick off for the second-half, DBP/FK snatched one try back to draw close to Sandy Bay. However, Donnacha once again led from the front to add a third, gladiator’s, try to widen Sandy Bay’s lead. The last of Sandy Bay’s tries came from their smallest player by quite some distance — Balthazar Crestel — as he capped a marvellous all-round performance to touch down in the corner. DPB/FK added a consolation with the game’s last play to end the game 22-10 in favour of Sandy Bay.

The level of performance put in by many a player was outstanding, including captain Andrew Rowe, Andreas Heinrich as well as Mengli Brodie. They were well supported by those whose consistency has been a hallmark of the season, namely Alex Carter and Luke Gaudois.

The challenge will now be for this group to repeat the same kind of performance in next week’s game against bottom-dwellers USRC Tigers. Needless to say, the return of the absentees would also be very welcome in pursuit of that goal.

Naub