by * Friday, April 4th 1997
PENRITH 36 def HUNTER 24 at Penrith Stadium
Penrith: Tries - Williams 2, Alexander, P Adamson, M Adamson
Goals - Girdler 8
Hunter: Tries - Ross 2, Poching, Zisti
Goals - Zisti 4
Referee: S Clark
Attendance: 8,926
This match may have exposed a concern I raised late last year
about the SL refereeing ranks. While they have five former top grade ARL
refs (who are certainly equal to any currently running arund in that
comp), they have little in the way of experienced (or even competent some
might say) back up. If one of those five were to suffer an injury (as
Clark did late in this match) and lose form than SL has few options. And
with the first of the rep matches next weekend the problem is only going
to become worse. One solution, which was originally suggested a few years
back for Winfield Cup, is to allow the top refs to handle more than one
game in a weekend (such as the Friday night match and then a second on
Monday night). This option has the advantage of allowing more games to be
handled by the top officals therefore hopefully meaning fewer controversial
mistakes by lower grade refs who perhaps should not be at the top level
(it also of course would solve SL's problem). The major question over such
an option is whether the top referees' performances would suffer were
they to handle mutliple matches in a weekend. If so then it would defeat
the purpose. Something to think about anyway...
* Saturday, April 5th 1997
BRISBANE 42 def NORTH QUEENSLAND 16 at Stockland Stadium, Townsville
Brisbane: Tries - Renouf 2, Carroll 2, Ryan 2
Smith, Devere
Goals - Lockyer 4, Devere
North Queensland: Tries - Death 2, Cressbrook
Goals - Doyle 2
Referee: B Harrigan
Attendance: 30,122 (ground record)
The scoreline was both a fair and an unfair indication of this
match. In one sense it was probably an accurate indication of the relative
strengths of the two sides on the night. In another sense it in no way
coveys how intense and thoroughly entertaining the match was. There is
little doubt in my mind that the majority of those at the game came away
feeling they had got more than their moneys worth. That is until they got
out to the car park and had to contend with the other 30,000 peole all
trying to leave at once - not fun. And in an unfortunate postscript it did
lead to quite a serious accident. A young lady trying to cross the road to
one of the more distant car parks was struck by a vehicle in the heavy
traffic. She sustained severe head injuries and is now in Townsville
General Hospital in a serious condition.
The two biggest things to come out of the night, was the ferocity
of the match and the crowd. For me the game evoked memories of a State of
Origin match in the late eighties (the one where Langer was carried off
with a broken leg). Barely a set of six went by without some player
requiring attention from the trainers and the injury toll must've
stretched the interchange and replacement benches to maximum. Three were
taken off on the medicab and at least another four limped off of their own
accord or with help. For the Cowboys, winger Luke Phillips (suspected
fractured ankle), half Jason Ferris (medial ligament tear), Locke
(aggravated shoulder damage) and Tyran Smith (aggravated knew damage) are
unlikely to play next week. This will be in addition to Lomax still out
suspended plus Walters and Cunningham away on Tri-Series duty. Galea has
been cleared to play even though he suffered a broken finger in this
match (probably on Wendall Sailor's head in the big fight).
But the biggest hit of the night came on Bronco Darren Lockyer
Lockyer had made minor break down the touchline when he was met in a one
on one tackle by a Cowboy five-eighth, John Dowle. In a perfectly legal
tackle, Doyle picked Lockyer up and dumped him with a tremendous thud on
his shoulder. As well as the potential shoulder injury, the force of the
impact also snapped Lockyer's head sidelways into the turf. As he was
stretchered off it was hard to tell which looked more painful, his
shoulder or his neck, but either way he didn't look well.
And finally, the crowd. The crowd were remarkably neutral at this
match which probably helps explain why so many still found the match
interesting despite the scoreline. When the Broncos ran on to the field
there were very few boos to be heard and generally they were well cheered.
The Cowboys of course got a bigger cheer but it was a sign of things to
come with the crowd largely supportive of both sides. The only person
copping boos for the night was of course referee Bill Harrigan who at half
time got a fair bollocking (IMO apart from his enforcement of the Broncos
ten metres he had a pretty good game). But no matter who they were there
to see, it was a fantastic crowd and with the standard of the match that
the two teams put on for them will certainly ensure tht many of them
return. Before their biggest crowd ever it was almost exactly what the
Cowboys needed to advertise the game and perhaps win back some of those
disaffected fans who had been staying away. Now if we can just do
something about the results...
* Sunday, April 6th 1997
CANTERBURY 34 def ADELAIDE 22 at Belmore Sports Ground
Canterbury: Tries - Haumono 2, Mar***e, Gillies, Price, Silva
Goals - Halligan 5
Adelaide: Tries - Mamando 2, Danani, Simonds
Goals - Willianson 3
Referee: G Annesley
Attendance: 7,234
What a lucky escape for the Bulldogs. With 12 minutes left they
trailed 22-20 but thanks to three late tries the Canterbury side got home
on a scoreline that was way too flattering. But either way, more good
signs for the Rams and if they're away performanes to date are any
indicator they're certainly going to knock a few of the heavy weights off
when they play them at home latter in the year.
CRONULLA 20 def PERTH 6 at WACA Ground, Perth
Cronulla: Tries - Graham, McKenna, Bell, Peachey
Goals - Rogers 2
Perth: Tries - Sheils
Goals - O'Neill
Referee: B Grant
Attendance: 9,259
* Monday, April 7th 1997
AUCKLAND 31 def CANBERRA 24 at Bruce Stadium, Canberra
Auckland: Tries - Kearney, Roppati, Hoppe, Jones, Henare
Goals - Ellis 5
Field Goals - Ellis
Canberra: Tries - Daley 2, Furner, McNamara, Woolford
Goals - Furner 2
Referee: T Mander
Attendance: 15,061
I'm left a bit speechless after this match. What do I talk about?
The video replay (IMO the first was wrong, the others were spot on)? Those
great tries? Furner missing from nearly in front to leave the scores tied?
Stuart failing to find touch from a crucial penalty? The look on poor old
big Mal's face as he watched his coaching career move just that bit closer
to the edge? The outstanding effort by the Warriors to actually win away
from home? Stuff it - I'll just say good match chaps and leave it at that.
* Points Table - After five rounds...
W D L PF PA Pts
BRISBANE 6 - - 148 66 12
PENRITH 5 - 1 170 102 10
CRONULLA 4 - 2 115 82 8
PERTH 3 - 3 116 118 6
CANTERBURY 3 - 3 124 127 6
Auckland 3 - 3 87 116 6
Adelaide 2 - 4 92 124 4
North Queensland 2 - 4 98 151 4
Hunter 1 - 5 112 112 2
Canberra 1 - 5 100 164 2
Catchya round, Leigh
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* Leigh T. Gillespie * "It takes leather balls *
* Phone - Australia (077) 791219 * to play Rugby!" *
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