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AU Rugby News: 24th May 2018
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Ladies Day – Saturday 26th May, from 2pm
The Club is hosting Ladies Day this Saturday afternoon, commencing at 2pm.
All our welcome to attend!
Ticket price is $30 per head and includes food and a welcome drink.
Wine (sparkling white, sparkling rose, sauvignon blanc, rose, and shiraz) will be available to the ladies at a special price of $5 per glass or $20 per bottle and a range of other drinks will be available from the bar.
Thanks as always to our generous sponsors, Angoves Wines, for their support for the day as the Club’s exclusive wine supplier.
It’s always a great day so make sure you get along!
The Juniors are booming in 2018!
The Club’s junior teams have been doing us proud over the first 4 rounds of the 2018 season.
Junior Director of Rugby, Jarrod Chave, reports:
“Wins in all junior grades (v Woodville) again last week. U/10s curently sitting 2nd on ladder, U/12s equal 3rd and U/14s only 1 point out of the top 4.
Congratulations also to the Club’s state representatives:
Ben Thomas and Toby Madden (U/14s)
Our 3 U/16s playing at Old Colls this year- Joeli Tavui, Bertie Thompson and Lachlan Fisher all made the U/16s state squad.”
Well done to the juniors – keep it up.
Senior Match Reports – Saturday 19th May v Port Adelaide
So near yet so far, against the competition leaders, Port Adelaide, away at Riverside. Senior coach Shane Marshall reports:
Seniors As
Still trying to work out our first half! We were very strong in the first 20minutess, keeping Port pinned in the corner, with the forwards attacking the try line. In the end, we came away with a penalty. However, Port dominated the second part of the first half, capitalising on some Uni mistakes, and put 4 Tries on the board. The half time score was Port 26 to Uni 3.
As it has been all year so far, it was a very different second half. It is very clear that our fitness is much higher. Uni put together a more clinical second half, with a lot fewer mistakes, and very good ball retention. Jordan Smith scored his first try for the club. Final score was Port 31 to Uni 24.
Tries – the ever reliable Bron Lett, Jordan Smith, Max Douglass. Max now has 7 tries for the season, after only 4 rounds!
Conversion - Tom Ralph (3)
Penalty - Tom Ralph (1)
Best forward - Aidan Carusi
Best back - Tom Ralph
Senior Bs
A very even first half against Port.
A converted try and 3 penalties gave us the slight lead going into half time.
The second half was a mixed bag, with Karibi scoring his first try. Playing as a team went out the window and Port took the lead. Lots to work on this week going into a home game v Barossa. Final score was Port 36 to Uni 21
Tries - Jordan Anderson, Karibi Sopriala
Conversion - Sebastian Amodeo 1
Penalties - Sebastian Amodeo 3
Best forward - Lex Baker
Best back - Jordan Anderson
Junior Match Reports – Saturday 19th May v Woodville
Under 12s
It was another nail biter against a much improved Woodville who with good forward work using their larger cattle crashed over for the first try of the day. Uni was far more settled this week and with the return of Finn we started to use the width of the field allowing him to use his speed to run around the Woodville players to score our first try between the posts.
With everyone pitching in we were able to hold off several advances and with our faster players we were able to counter attack and again getting the ball wide to Finn from our 22 he went over for his second.
As per the previous game, Woodville finished the first half strongly sending their big forward through our defence for an easy try.
The second half was pretty much a carbon copy of the first with Charlie tagging Mathias and keeping our ball safe at the breakdown we had three try opportunities with breaks down the side line and just as we were clear of the defenders we clipped the side line handing the ball back to Woodville.
Our next try came from a scrum 15 metres out from Woodville’s line. Spotting an undefended blind side our No. 9 Angus ran over for our third. With a score line of 17 to 10 and what Uni expected Woodville came at us time and again using their big forward to attack our line. Uni held on with grim determination but eventually Woodville went over for their third try making the score line 17 to 15.
The last 5 minutes with Woodville camped on our 22, Uni defended attacks time and time again until the final whistle to hold on for a 2 point win. It was good to have the team from two weeks earlier back.
There were a lot of players on the field who deserved points Saturday but unfortunately we can only pick three.
Points Charlie 3, Will 2, Finn 1
Peter H
Under 10s
WON 48 – 20
Spirit Of Rugby: Rhys 3, Pete 2, Jay 1
Tries: Joseph 3, Jordy, Xavier T, Connor, Malakai, Nick M
Another thoroughly enjoyable game, with the team yet again taking a considerable step forward. At times some of the spectators were almost speechless with the ball retention. The ball presentation, support rucking and then clear out from the scrum half was outstanding for this level, especially this early in the season. The support play and players pitch alignment were also much improved.
How proud AU rugby can be, I well remember just a few seasons ago watching the U10’s lose the ball almost every time in contact and the team subsequently spending the game walking back to the posts. This is by no means superior coaching (although Jesus you are doing a great job) but rather the momentum the club is building in numbers and enthusiasm. It’s certainly a lot easier to be enthusiastic and passionate about the game when you have the ball and are winning and that is what these young boys and girls are now doing.
The negative might be the tackling compared to 2 weeks ago and we did leak 4 tries but overall this was a highly accomplished performance which further builds towards our first big game of the season against Old Cols next weekend.
Spirit of Rugby went to Rhys for awesome leadership and commitment. We are looking for players to step up and not to wait for Jesus to direct. Rhys absolutely did this taking control at the base of the rucks and mauls. Even when players were standing in his way he threw multiple American football passes out to the threequarters. Now whilst we don’t encourage this and people shouldn’t be in the way he stepped up and took control. He also tackled and carried well. Well done Rhys keep it up.
Pete for a game full of energy and passion. In the second half especially he was in the right place at the right time. Picking up the ball or at first receiver and running straight and then most impressively recycling the ball. Pete we love your aggression and constant enthusiasm, you had a great game.
Jay backed up from last week with another excellent game. First to the opposition, first to the breakdown, strong straight runs.
Honourable mentions to Jordy for his first try ever and on his birthday! Jack for a lovely couple of breaks, Nick F for a couple of awesome tackles and carries and of course Nick M & Malakai for another commanding game. Joseph was again everywhere scoring 3 tries and converting 4 lovely drop kicks.
Roll on next week v Old Cols. Our first big test of the season.
Chris Tan
Under 8s
A cold, cloudy and slightly foggy early Saturday at Woodville this week but hey, it wasn't raining!
A second run at the wasps and the boys are looking good. Commitment to tackles was again great to see. Much better in around the ruck this week and we're starting to see the boys getting over the ball. Fantastic running in attack and good to see the offloads are still on display. Always great to see a captains try, well done Wallace!
Still room for improvement but no doubt about the natural talent across the whole team. Love to see how hungry for the ball this team is and looking forward to seeing more of it.
Malcolm O’Farrell
2018 Draw
The 2018 Home Game Schedule for the rest of the season follows, with our senior opponents listed in brackets:
26 May (Barossa)
16 June (Port)
30 June (Elizabeth)
21 July (Barossa)
4 August (Port)
18 August (Elizabeth)
Junior home games will be held on the same day as senior home games listed above.
Training nights
Training nights are as follows:
Monday: Seniors, Romas
Tuesday: Juniors
Wednesday: Romas
Thursday: Seniors, Juniors
Friday: Romas
Senior training commences at 6.30pm sharp, with an 8pm finish.
The Bar is open on Thursday nights until around 9pm. All our welcome to drop by, have an ale or two, catch up with old friends, and find out about what is happening around the Club!
Volunteers wanted!
The Club runs on its volunteers.
If you want to get involved for the 2018 season in any capacity, your help will be greatly appreciated. Volunteer roles span the full spectrum of the Club's activities, but we especially need help for match days, with running the BBQ and the bar, and ground setup and packup. Let Nick O'Brien (nickhob@hotmail.com), Vikki Chave (vikkichave71@gmail.com) or Jim McMillan (jmcmillan@murraychambers.com.au) know if you can help out in any capacity.
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Support our 2018 Sponsors!
Angoves Wines
Pirate Life Beers
The Earl of Leicester Hotel
AU Sport
Nick O'Brien - Building Services
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