1st XV vs Southern Suburbs - Uninhibited Collegians

From the Tregenza Times 20th May 1986
by Ben Perkins

Collegians dispelled any doubts anyone could have about their ability, desire or paranoia of playing an open game of rugby. Admittedly Southern Suburbs must rank as one of the worst teams ever to play the game, but Collegians foind it in themselves to have the courage not to kick the ball away with their usual boring worthless precision.

Collegians learnt early that their usual joke opponents didn't want to tackle and one sensed that this gave our boys the confidence that was required. So we saw Collegians, yes Collegians, running and supporting the player with the ball. This was a very pleasant change and before too long we had a few tries on the board.

After fifteen minutes it was 20. Zip, Sean, Carl and others were making big inroads around the pack and what with Southern Suburbs' inspired and dedicated tackling this meant points to the Collegian team. So up until now the game was ok. Unfortunately for the next 20 muns. Collegians lost all concentration and semblanceof purpose and instead of making the game as fast as possible, they clucked around down in their defensive area and were nothing short of being very, very disappointing. The instructions from within should have been to keep the ball moving and whatever you do, don't let the other mob have the ball (after all they had no idea whatever hat to do with it). But that strong authority and gutsy desire to go in and take over the game wasn't really there in the forward department. They didn't hit rucks with the purpose that is required to have an impact in a more important game. Going in high after all these years is, wen they have been tolfd forever that that is not the way ... well, it must worry the coach. In the backs, we continually ran across field and lacked thrust which was mainly due to the fact that the extra man was hardly ever deployed (if you'll excuse my missile imagery). Tony can't be blamed for this as he is filling in quite courageously. The fact remains that Collegians can't be considered a serious threat until they learn to run with the ball with extra players involved.

The second half began ... slowly (Collegians must soon realise that the beginning is just that, and seeing one's future is based on one's past ... well, the immediate past is very relative in a footy game ... The moral is that if you want respect from the other team, you gotta mean it ... you don't fake it well). But still while the clouds were grey and the wind quite cold and gusty, there was a rainbowin the sky, which to me meant hope - and indeed the Collegians played some very fine football ...for half the half they played well, the rest was indecisive and unfulfilled. One of Collegians' best players was the Southern Suburbs fullback; now, with the way he was so brilliantly portraying the invisible man, it should have been at least a hundred points. So the game was spasmodic in the second half ... this can be attributed to the fitness of the players and when they had a bit of energy, they ran purposefully and backed up ... but so often didn't finish things off for this reason or that, so the crod was left lamenting many a promising moment. And speaking of promises, Carl promised he'd keep his socks up and his jumper in ... and when he did do this, in the second half, he did look a much netter player. I hope all Collegians players follow his fine example. It may make them a lot less loose and who knows, if the Collegians pack can look the part, maybe they will drive their arms out as they leave a scrum or maul and be five yards closer to Carl as he leads the charge. Henry plays well but must learn to vary his game of running with the ball under his arm; Tim Naylor must read the game in defence better and be there but Naylor I felt ran with good purpose and showed signs of being an improver. Michael Raymond finished well generally and the ones he didn't were because of his dropping the ball. I feel confident that in a more important game he will attack it harder and com through for the team,  Some of Michael's tries gave humour to the game as all the ways their fullback missed him really were funny.

Generally speaking, Collegians showed some good signs but if they are to improve and become a genuine threat, they must persevere with not kicking the ball away. Becoming fit enough to run the ball all day and play the game at their speed, which must be fast. And for the sake of it being mentioned one more time, Collegian players must enter the ruck situations with more purpose and control and then, and only then, can the team confidently expect and prepare itself for the ball that will come .. and perhaps this will inspire the backline to position itself with closeness, depth and good old speed .. and lest we forget, the extra man in .. Tony did it successfully from deep in our half and one of the best tries of the games resulted from players being prepared to run, wanting to run ... and entering themselves into the game. I'm sure some of the players enjoyed that game against Southern Suburbs - Naylor, Sean and Carl and many others made nice runs and looked to be enjoying themselves.

There were two comments from the crowd that are worthy of mention. Collegians received a penalty two yards out. The opposition was outnumbered 11 to 4. A huge absurd pause filled the game as Collegians perpended ... the disbelief inspired a relation to comment ... it will be a penalty for wasting time soon; funny but accurate. The other was Tim Farrah as he watched the rainbow and reminded us all of those words of Robert Lowell: "I have only this rainbow to leave you, this testimonial of a faith, often invaded, of a hope that burned more slowly than the green log on the fire". I've always respected Tim's undoubted passion and spirit.

We all hope Michael Campion's shoulder is not too bad. He has told me that apologies will not really be accepted by all of those who didn't attend his quiz night, and from what I can gather, he is not accepting apologies from nearly everyone he knows, It's a tough world, Mike. It was also pleasing to see Tim Campion back in A grade. This is the right side for him to play in, in my opinion.

Final score: OC's 68 Southern Suburbs 0