|
HSOB 24 SUMNER 19
Guaranteed a finish in the top half of the table, the Waves final game in their inaugural season in the first division was against High School Old Boys in the Plate Final for
5th place.
A massive contingent of supporters followed the Wave to Ascot Green for their last hit out, but it was Old Boys who started the stronger, enjoying the bulk of the early territory and
possession. Sumners defence was stoic on its line, particularly around the fringes, but they were powerless to stop a superbly executed cross field kick, gathered by the Old Boys winger.
7-nil down Sumner got stuck into their work, and field position eventually led to points, with Mark Chester knocking over two penalty goals. Evergreen leader Mark Bacon played a
massive role in putting Sumner on the front foot, making several telling breaks in open play. Ginho Haurua was similarly instrumental, his trademark power from the back of the scrum proving increasingly difficult to handle.
With Chesters kicking boots on form Sumner eventually took the lead, his 4th successful shot at goal sending the Wave to the break up 12-7.
Sumner started the second spell in fine fashion, showing a willingness to try and stretch their opposition. The tactic paid off early on, when they spread the ball to the left flank
and into the hands of Marc Pringle. With plenty of work still to do, Pringle tip-toed down the sideline, stepped inside the first cover defender, and power over in the tackle of the second for Sumners first try of the encounter. Chesters superb sideline conversion gave Sumner a handy
19-7 lead.
Old Boys fought back into the game, a penalty and an unconverted try getting them within striking distance. Some decisive substitutions by Old Boys saw them well equipped to control
the game, and the pressure kept mounting on the Sumner defence, which in turn, inevitably, led to penalties being conceded.
Accurate goal kicking netted Old Boys a further nine points, and while Sumner tried desperately to gain possession and create a scoring opportunity in the dying moments they were
unable to get over the line, the 24-19 final scoreline a fair reflection of a tightly contested battle.
While the loss, Sumners first in over two months, was not the note the boys wanted to finish on, their placing in the top half of the ladder undoubtedly signals a highly credible
debut season in the top flight. At the Gale Dinner and Awards Night on Saturday Matt Fitzgerald was the first recipient of the Phil Laloli Trophy for Division One MVP, while Mark Bacons is the first name to appear on the Robbie Timo Trophy for Wave Man of the Year. Tom Gilmour was the
sides forward of the year, Mark Chester was back of the year, and Lawrence Babe was Wave Newcomer of the Year. Reece McCaffrey took out the prize for top team try scorer, and top try scorer amongst all teams in the Senior club.


|