Fixtures and Results for Kuttabul Camelboks

With a raft of regular players injured, Kuttabul fielded a new look team for the top of the table clash with Brothers. With new combinations in the front row, Back row, halves and center, the Bok's were always going to struggle with early cohesion. This proved to be the case when Brothers were able to turn field position into points. With barely 5 minutes on the clock, Brothers were able to exploite the short side, their fowards stringing 5 phases together before Kuttabul ran out of numbers and Brothers were over in the corner.

The disjointed Kuttabul pack stated to lose their discipline and were on the end of 3 successive penalties.Brothers were once again able to turn position into points and led a stunned Kuttabul 12-0 after ten minutes.

For the first time in the 2009 competition the Camelboks would play from behind on the score board. After settling into there pattern and getting a few more numbers to the break downs, the Camelbok forward pack started to gain some ascendancy. A full arm penalty gave Benny Grandclaudon the opportunity to post Kuttabuls first points and not long after, Hugo Ross capped off a good forward drive with a try close to the ruck. Unfamiliar with crossing the white stripe, Hugo is in somewhat of a purple patch, having scored 3 tries in the last couple of matches and is showing that there is more to his game than his hard at the ball style.

When Benny was able to slot another penalty, the Camelboks had reduced the margin to a single point. With Kuttabul finding parity in the scrum and lineouts and gaining the ascendancy in the rucks and mauls it was only a matter of time before the points came.  And come they did, in a short period either side of the break, the Camelboks scored 4 tries to end the game as a contest.

After good pressure from the Kuttabul backs, Brothers spilt the ball in the midfield. Benny was on hand to toe through the loose ball and set off on a good chase. Benny was able to regather the ball and off loaded to a charging Vila Apu'ula. Deft stepping saw V get to the fringe of the cover and sent Mitchel Coles off to score his first career try for the Camelboks.

Much to the joy of the ever-growing contingent of Fijian supporters on the hill, Ratu was next to score when he swooped on a ball down the short side and went 60 metres untouched. Ratu continues to grow in stature and skill and appears destined for higher honours.

Turning into the breeze for the second half, Kuttabul had built a 23-12 lead. A succession of penalties against Brothers allowed the Camelboks a free ride up the field. The forwards shifted the play back down the short side where Hugo turned a ball back inside to Mike Entwistle. The Irish flanker hit the ball at speed and was able to brush aside 4 would-be tacklers to score a most impressive individual try.

Scoring so early in the half had a debilitating effect on the Brothers team and from the restart, gaps appeared in their line. Shifting the ball wide immediately, Nigel Neame was able to slice through the staggered defensive line and sprint clear. With support on either side, Vagana drew and passed to the outside runner in Benny Grandclaudon, who raced away to score under the posts.

So ended a magical 15 minute period where the patrons saw some great free-flowing rugby and were entertained with good individual and team tries. Then we entered 30 minutes of utter frustration as the reffee blew penality after penalty after penalty. The Camelboks showed amazing resolve and unbelievable fortitude to defend their line against a sustained 16 man assualt. Camped on the Kuttabul 10m line, the Brothers forwards were repelled time after time as they ran into the teeth of a committed defensive line. When Louis Kern was yellow carded, it would have been understandable if their line was breached. But as the penalty-athon against the men in green continued, the Boks hung tough and thankfully, finally, mercifully......... the ref blew that whistle for the last time.

Tries: Hugo Ross, Brent Coles, Ratu Delimante, Mike Entwistle, Benny Grandclaudon

Conversions: Benny Grandclaudon (2P,2C)

Best on Ground: Logan Gardiner (1 point) and Damian Royan (1 point) were strong around the ground and earned an early shower.

Flankers Mike Entwistle (2 points) and Hugo Ross (2 points) were donimate at the break down and clearly outpointed the Brothers backrow.

In a single match Brent Coles (3 points) has made more hit-ups, scored more tries and made more tackles than his older brother did in the entire 2008 season and for that reason takes home the Man of the Match honours.

Next week Kuttabul take on the old foe Slade Point.

1. SCOTT DEAN
2. LOGAN GARDINER
3. IVAN MILAT
4. DAMIAN ROYAN
5. ALEX BOURNE
6. MIKE ENTWISTLE
7. HUGO ROSS
8. LOUIS KERN
9. BRENT COLES
10. CALUM McCONNELL
11. BENNY GRANDCLAUDON
12. VILA APU'ULA
13. NIGEL NEAME
14. RATU DELIMANTE
15. ANDY GARBETT
16. DAN IRELAND
17. PITA BERACIRI

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