Black Falcons 2006
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Black Falcons set to swoop
By JARRAD PILKINGTON
20 apr06 The Adelaide Advertiser
THE Adelaide Black Falcons enter Sunday's trial match against Darwin with a new attacking combination and confident of a successful season ahead.
It is the last hit out for the Falcons before the Australian Rugby Shield competition begins in three weeks. Over the off-season, Falcons coach Carl Jones has set up a new attacking combination with captain Gareth Brown moving from half-back to take up a new role at five-eighth. The vital half-back position will now be filled by Southern Suburbs recruit Peter Gibson.
The change, along with the addition of the 122kg Kini Tavui to inside centre has Jones excited. "We have seen at previous trials that when Gareth moves to five-eighth we have a lot more go-forward," Jones said. "We are expecting big things from Gibson and Tavui at inside centre will give us some extra attacking flair." The Falcons start as favourite against Darwin at Gleneagles Reserve and are treating the game as a chance to test some set plays and shore up their ball-running combinations.
Jones, in his second year as coach, still has a few problems with two players out with long-term injuries. Experienced hooker Richard Wasley, who is nearing his 50th cap for SA, has slipped a disk in his back and is out indefinitely while Kiwi prop Rudolph Timoteo won't play this season after snapping his Achilles tendon. "Those two are big blows, they are two of the front row so they are going to be sorely missed," Jones.
"But we are still confident, we feel we have lifted the bar this season. We have concentrated on fitness and we have some trial games under our belt, so the guys are feeling good."
The Falcons will soon find out where they stand when they play reigning champions Perth in the first Shield game on May 7. The other two teams in their pool are against Melbourne and Tasmania, and Jones is confident of winning both. Meanwhile, the State Premiership season gets under way this weekend with four games to be played on Saturday. Reigning champion Brighton is favourite to take its 26th premiership but will face tough opposition from Old Collegians while Burnside could prove to be a dark horse following some strong off-season recruiting.
Ex-rowing star in rugby bid
By JARRAD PILKINGTON
21apr06 The Adelaide Advertiser
A FORMER British world championship rower will make his debut for the Adelaide Falcons rugby union side on Sunday against Darwin at Gleneagles Reserve.
Simon Burmester, a six foot five, 104kg second row lock, hails from London, England, but moved to Adelaide at the start of 2005. Burmester, 30, went to a "non-rugby playing school" and took up rowing when he was 16. He rowed for Great Britain when he was 18 and won a silver medal at the world championships in 1993 in the coxless fours. He was also the under 18 national champion for indoor rowing - holding the sixth fastest time in the world for his age group.
But his rowing career stalled when he left school and was ended only months later after suffering prolapsed disks in his back, an injury common to rowers. He played rugby union in England for a short time before moving to Adelaide with his Australian partner to start a family. Burmester is one of 12 new players to be selected to play for the Falcons this Sunday and said he was itching to get out onto the park. "All of us are itching to get playing competition," he said. "The build up in the squad has been great and the boys have really bonded over the past couple of months so it is going to be really good." He said the brand of rugby played in Australia was far better then that in England. "It is fantastic. To be honest I find it a lot better playing here. It is a faster more flowing game. It is more expansive and the conditions are a lot better," he said.
COACH: Carl Jones. CAPTAIN: Gareth Brown. SQUAD: Gareth Brown (Brighton), Doug Signorini (Brighton), Richard Wasley (Brighton), Wayne Londema (Brighton), Charlie Sheppeard (Old Collegians), Christian Tedge (Old Collegians), Andy Farquharson (Old Collegians), Tevita Raikiwasa (Port Adelaide), Tim Mattin (Port Adelaide), Declan Scragg (Southern Suburbs), Matty Connor (Woodville), Andrew Plimer (Woodville), Inosi Tukana (Port Adelaide), Kurt McKinley (Onkaparinga), Troy Doughty (Onkaparinga). Ins: Shane Hunt (Woodville returned from a season in NZ), Peter Gibson (Southern Suburbs, relocated from Queensland), Kini Tavui (Old Collegians, returned after two seasons with Canberra Vikings), John Collins (Old Collegians, returned from UK), Ben Hamer (Old Collegians, returned from UK), Solomone Donu (Southern Suburbs, relocated from Fiji), Jack Glover (Brighton), Simon Burmester (Old Collegians), Will Van Wette (Woodville), Mark Henty (Brighton), Mathew Adams (University), Joe Krajina (Brighton), James Hodgson (Burnside). Outs: William TeTau (Relocated to Queensland), Tim Lough (Retired from state Rep), Josh Sutcliffe (Relocated to U.S.), Karl Afungi (Burnside).
Falcons sneak home by one point
By JARRAD PILKINGTON
24apr06 The Adelaide Advertiser
THE Adelaide Black Falcons dusted off some cobwebs to sneak to a one-point win against Darwin at Gleneagles Reserve yesterday.
Up 23-8 at one stage in the trial match, Darwin finished the stronger adding two converted tries, including one in the final phase of play, to reduce the margin to a single point. The Falcons were rocked at the start by the loss of new half-back Peter Gibson due to a red card in the Southern Suburbs match against Burnside on Saturday. Gibson was due to start in a new two-pronged combination with captain Gareth Brown moving to five-eighth. His loss meant Fijian Solomone Donu had to step up to the half- back position in the first half, but the Falcons lacked the bite needed and went into the break at 8-8.
Coach Carl Jones rang the changes during half-time, which included moving captain Brown back to half-back. The moves paid immediate dividends with the Falcons scoring two quick tries to move to 23-8. Ben Hamer capped off a brilliant team effort when he crossed the line to score after 10 phases of patient play.
There is still much improvement for the Falcons although they will take much heart from their strong line-outs where Christian Tedge was outstanding.
Jones said the game was invaluable to find out where his squad stood before the Australia Shield begins on May 7. "Certainly we have got work to do and these next two weeks will be make or break," Jones said. "The game showed us we aren't ready for the Shield just yet, but we know what areas we have to work on over the next few weeks to get ready."
In the Premier Grade on Saturday, Adelaide Uni celebrated its first game back in the top division with a tight 28-25 point win over Woodville. Old Collegians defeated Port Adelaide 46-30 while a much stronger Burnside beat Southern Suburbs 30-22. Premiership favourite Brighton scored a gritty three-point win over Onkaparinga with Clinton Callaghan, Ben Wilson and Brad Allan scoring tries.
17th May 2006
The third round of the Australian Rugby Shield kicks off this Saturday, 20 May when the Physio Direct Adelaide Black-Falcons take on the Tassie Jack Jumpers under lights from 7.30pm at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide.
Thanks to all our fans who came out to cheer us on last weekend against the Melbourne Axemen in a match that featured some solid defence and was in the balance until the final 10 minutes.
Unfortunately, after leading 13 - 12 at half-time we ended up going down 31 - 20 when the Axemen scored two late tries to claim victory. Both hooker Jon Collins and winger Jack Glover were impressive throughout the match for the Black-Falcons.
After the second round of the tournament, we're sitting third in Pool 2, so we will be keen to post a win this weekend at home against the Tassie Jack Jumpers to finish the season on a high.
So whether you play Rugby, you're a coach, a referee or an avid spectator, make sure you don't miss out on all the action of this week's match.
Gareth Brown, Captain - Physio Direct Adelaide Black-Falcons
