|
Port Kembla vs Wests
Sunday 24th July, 2005
Noel Mulligan Oval, Kemblawarra
Wests
Illawarra 32 (Mat Clarke (3), Sam Dorahy (2), Adam Luchetti Tries;
Adam Luchetti (4) Goals) Defeated Port Kembla 18 (Mark Simon (3)
Tries; Mark Simon (3) Goals)
The Blacks lost the game, but are still in with a slim chance of
making the play-offs. Port went into the half time break down by just two
points after holding a four point lead four minutes before half time, but
could not match the intensity of a Wests outfit minus no less than four of
their stars.
Port were without the services of Michael
Cross and started with Darren Irwin in the front row. They were first to
score when a loose Nikitaras ball was cleaned up by Craig Simon inside his
own quarter. Simon managed to offload under pressure in the tackle, the ball
swung wide to Lulia Lulia who passed inside to Jason Sullivan. Sullivan
off-loaded the final pass for Mark Simon to score and convert.
Wests hit back three minutes later when a
strong run to the line saw the Devils attack offload, even though tackled by
three Blacks, and the ball passed wide out to catch Port napping. Luchetti's
try was unconverted, Port maintaining a two point lead. Wests went close
again in the 13th and 15tyh minutes but couldn't convert their good field
position into points.
Jiuta Suka put Port in scoring range with
a barnstorming run to the Wests 20 metre line, only to see the ball dropped
on the next tackle ten out from the Wests line. Wests made The Blacks pay
when Sam Dorahy crossed in the 25th minute to gain a two point advantage.
Five minutes elapsed before Craig Simon
offloaded to Lincoln Hutchison who ran 20 metres before passing for Mark
Simon to score his second try, Port leading by 4 after the conversion.
With four to go, and on the back of a
Port Kembla dropped ball inside their own quarter, Jason Ferris kicked high
in goal, Suka flying high for the ball but unable to handle it. Matt Clarke
swooped and touched down just inside the dead ball line, Luchetti's
conversion giving Wests a two point edge at the main break.
Port opened the second period with repeat
sets of six through a penalty and trapping Wests in goal. However, the
intensity couldn't be turned into points and this seemed to take some of the
wind out of Port's sails. The Blacks were playing for a share of fourth spot
after learning of Corrimal's loss to Helensburgh the previous day, however
Wests were playing for something too - a shot at the minor premiership, and
perhaps with news filtering through of Dapto's lead over Collegians, they
stepped up a gear.
Aaron Hertsch was given too much room to
move out wide and proceeded to move the ball from deep within his own twenty
to the Port thirty metre line, before a couple of passes found Matt Clarke
lurking inside, scoring under the posts for Luchetti to convert.
With Wests in the box seat with an eight
point lead, Mark Simon tried to inspire a comeback, grubbering in goal to
chase, only to be legaally shepherded from the ball by the Wests defenders.
Wests caught Port asleep out wide again two minutes later, but stand in
fulback Nathan Heffernan pulled off a great try saving tackle, only to have
a Ferris kick trap Port in goal on the next play.
Port worked their way into good field
position yet again, but as has been the case on too many occasions this
season, dropped the ball on the third tackle when they looked likely to
trouble the Devil's defence. Wests just about put the issue beyond doubt
when they scored through Sam Dorahy in the 67th minute, extending their lead
to 14 points.
Mark Simon breathed a hint of life into
the game with a 72nd minute try and goal, but Wests were too good, scoring
again through Matt Clarke four minutes from time, the result of a scrum win
against the feed and some poor defence.
Wests looked the goods missing Brendan
Reeves, Troy Barnes, the Fritz brothers and Greg Reh up front. Their depth
overcame Port's good start, but in the end, The Blacks lacked the intensity
provided by inspirational front rower Michael Cross.
Fortunately for Port, Helensburgh's win
over Corrimal and the fact that Dapto are the Black's round 18 opponents
give Port a slight chance of a playoff spot. To get this however, Port will
need to rely on Helensburgh to again beat Corrimal. Port themselves will
then need to win three straight games (Dapto in round 18, Corrimal in a
Tuesday night playoff, Dapto in a Thursday night playoff) before they face
the third placed team in a Sunday elimination final (most likely to be
Thirroul).
PORT KEMBLA TEAM
| 1. Nathan Heffernan |
7. Mark
Simon |
13. Lincoln Hutchison |
| 2. Jason Sullivan |
8. Darren Irwin |
Interchange |
| 3. Craig Simon |
9. Josh Edwards |
14. Luke Roberts |
| 4. Lulia Lulia |
10. Junior Phillip |
15. Michael Yatras |
| 5. Juita Suka |
11. Daniel Jiminez |
16. Gavin Walsh |
| 6. Stuart Phillpott |
12. Nick Nikitaras |
17. Mohamad Hijazi |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|