Marauders vs University

Mauraders 'trick and treat' their way to a convincing win over Uni

The Marauders dusted off the the Halloween (and offseason) cobwebs and ran on to Tin Shui Wai's HKRU stadium for their first action of the 2020/21 season. A strong looking Marauders team ably led by their departing, beloved, captain Gavin Hermann. The Raiders and Marauders banded together to give Gav a guard of honor as he stepped foot on the pitch wearing the Marauders arm band one last time. "Gone but never forgotten", he says with a tear in his eye.

Gav was ably supported by an all star front row cast of the Judge Mike Coatsey and Matty Whitmell (VC). The rest of the pack had the usual look to it, albeit a little bit greyer around the edges, a little bit fuller around the waist. Fortunately no Nubious to irritate the referee this time around.

We kicked off trailing 0-5 after the Uni team had nullified the Raiders charge. With the Uni lads softened up courtesy of Jonesy and the Raiders gang, we quickly recovered the ball and used the preferred form of attack:- Give it to Lut Cameron (aka Joburg's finest). The Joburg Joller returning to action after a long summer of rest (covid related) quickly released his first, second, third, fourth and fifth hand offs for the season as he casually strolled from the middle of the field on half way to the far corner leaving 5 bodies strewn on the floor and his support runners struggling to keep up. First blood to the Marauders. 5-5. More to come this season.

University started to break some tackles and a few mistakes from the Ms allowed them into the ascendancy for a period of 5/10 mins. Eventually the pressure would tell and their barnstorming 175kg number 9 ran through about 6 would be tacklers, ran over a dodgy backline defender and dived in for their first meat pie against the Ms. 5-10.

Not to be outdone, the Marauders put phases together. Binnie, Channy, Ali Jessup leading the forwards' charge. Livewire halfback, Stoner, was marshalling his troops. Phase after phase we came, however we eventually we would spill the ball. Not to let our standards drop, the match defining moment was upon us, a double play from Channy and Doug McCaw a new signing from Frangos on Elgin Street. Channy tackles low, Doug first on the scene, the ball is stolen before the cameras are out, and he's off, like 'a middle-aged American outside a Best Buy on Black Friday' he's clean through and desperately hunting his favourite item - the side step, hand off, half-gap, draw and pass. 4 defenders beaten. Mike and Tom about to run and score. A quite remarkable bit of skill from the returning once-captain of this esteemed side.

The next attack was ours, and a half break put Stoner through looking destined for a try, but the defender hung on, from all of 8 metres away. To what did he hang you ask? The nuggety scrummy wire let out his all too familiar Zulu war chant "Let go of my nuts you country bumpkin". Next phase and the Marauders were over for their second under the poles. Rumble with the pick and go, and a slap on the head for his efforts from their Orc lookalike scrum half. 10-10. Unfortunately Stoner had caused such a scene that the ref let this slap go muttering "I want to make sure your mate is still eligible for the men's division".

We returned to the field with the score 15-15.

The second quarter picked up where we left off. Good phase work from the piggies, running together as a team, pick and gos (dragons). The newbies and returning faces were impressing, coach Stids would be so proud. Some good exploitation of space let Mike (Honorable Chair) Lacey and Tom (I prefer bicycle kicks on my own goal line) [insert surname] to race in, after more good work from that man Camo. With the score now at a comfortable25-15. Dayton Spins McGee proceeded to miss a fairly straightforward kick to leave the game on a knife edge if Uni scored.

And score they did, a quick try for Uni and it was closing in on 25-22 with a tense final few minutes. Marauders built some good phases and a kick in behind caused all kinds of panic, the marauders were first to react and dived over to seal the win 25-22. Once again, Spins cock up the kick and the match ended.

Overall some great performances from across the park. Young Tom with his debut and try - sensational. Gav for his honest man's work in the front row. Stoner and Lut for controlling the game. Ali for over 27 carries and 18 tackles.

Maruaders 25 - 12 Uni
Marauders/Raiders 30 - Uni 22

Tries:
Nick Cameron
Tom
Mike Lacey
Rumble 2

Conversions:
Rumble 0/2
Dayton 0/2
Ed Nethersole 1/1