Fixtures and Results for Kuttabul Camelboks

KUTTABUL 58 Def CITIES 8

 The Camelboks had a couple of forced changes from the team that defeated Slade Point the week before, gone were Damian Royan (4), Hugo Ross (2), Brent Coles (9) and Andy Garbett (15). Into the pack came the very capable Polynesian pair of Loagan Gardiner and Savvy Tawake. Marc Walker and Nigel Neame were inclusions to the backline.

So it was in perfect rugby conditions that the front runners of the competition took on Mackay City at the home of rugby, Quarry Hill. The Boks shook off the slow start that had dogged them the previous two weeks when a rare short arm came their way. The Fijians took control with Tawake taking a quick tap and drew and passed to a charging Manu. The crowd favourite prop, who can run like a winger and ball play like a fly-half, found the ever present Tawakeuau on an inside line. Usaia was able to find Delimante who accelerated, changed direction and raced 50m to score under the posts.

Cities found some field position on the back of one of the 32 penalties they recieved through the game and were able to kick 3 points with the reliable boot of Eddy Skien.

Minutes latter Cities were to find out about the quality of the Camelbok counter attack, when a clearing kick didn't find touch but instead found Benny Grandclaudon. Ben linked with his fullback who found Vila Apu'ula. V threw a very select pass to hit the flying Delimante and he once again raced 50m to score in the corner. The unconverted try had the Boks out to a 12-3 lead.

V and Ratu combined again for the next try when Ratu scooted down the short side after a turnover. Vila backed up the line break and showed blistering speed to race away for another long range try.

The next came only minutes latter when a midfield scrum provided the perfect platform for hard running Maori backrower Logan Gardiner. Taking the ball from the back and running over the initial couple of defenders, Gardiner was able to show the speed that had him playing in the centres the previous season. Carting the ball 40m upfield, Dan Ireland loomed to be the link man and sent Louis Kern to the try line. The French import had been in something of a drought after scoring a bunch of tries in the first 6 rounds and made good his promise of scoring this week.

Ratu got his hat-trick just before half time but I missed the try as I was at the bar. Kuttabul lead 29-3 at half time

After half time, Kuttabul found the massive  penalty count was disrupting their rhythm and it was 7 or 8 minutes before Louis Kern crack the defence. Logan Gardiner was the support man and he raced in under the posts, allowing Vila Apu'ula to miss the easiest of conversions.

The next was another long range effort when Marc Walker, deep inside Kuttabul territory, came back towards the short side. Scottish centre Calum McConnell did all the right things when he drew and passed at the perfect moment to free Ratu Delimante down the side line. Ratu returned the favour by turning the ball back inside to McConnell who beat the chasers and put Kuttabul out to a 39-3 lead.

Kuttabul were having some trouble with their lineouts, but it was the Red Men who paid the price for an ill-directed throw. The turnover ball was quickly shifted to the quick men and Vila was able to dance his way through the Cities defence.

Cities were finally able to breach the Camelbok defence when on their 27th penalty they kicked the ball deep into the Kuttabul corner. The lineout was driven on from 5m out and the ensuing collapsed maul saw a Cities hand on the ball over the line.

Kuttabul were reliant upon open play turnovers after being whistled out of all breakdown contests and it was again from a turnover that Vila Apu'ula scooped the ball up and set sail for the line. To add insult to injury, Vila was able to keep the chasers interested by deliberately staying a metre or two in front of them on his 60m run to the line. Yes it must be nice to be so fast.

The last of the Kuttabul tries was vintage Usaia Tawakeuau when he ran through the teeth of the Cities pack. His size belies his strength and his ablitity to remain on his feet has to be seen to be believed. Cannoning into players, somethings going over the top of them, sometimes throwing them aside, Usaia moved through the defence until finally exploding out the other side and finishing the match with a well earned try. The conversion ended scoring at 58-8

Worth noting is the points differential (points scored missus points conceeded) as it says something of the manner in which the Kuttabul team have gone about their rugby this season. The 1st placed Boks have a differential of 247 and the 2nd placed Bowen have a differential of 20. Although the coaching staff drills the team that you don't win premierships in July, they are certainly heading in the right direction.

The undefeated Camelboks next travel to Bowen for a top of the table clash.

Tries: Ratu Delimante (3), Vila Apu'ula (3), Louis Kern (1), Logan Gardiner (1), Calum McConnell (1), Usaia Tawakeuau (1)

Conversions: 4/10

1. OSCAR MANU
2. SAVENICA TAWAKE
3. SCOTTY DEAN
4. ALEX BOURNE
5. LOIUS KERN
6. DUN IRELAND
7. MIKE ENTWISTLE
8. LOGAN BRO GARDINER
9. MARC WALKER
10. USAIA TAWAKEUAU
11. BENNY GRANDCLAUDON
12. VILA APU'ULA
13. CALUM McCONNELL
14. RATU DELIMANTE
15. NIGEL NEAME
16. PITA BERACIRI

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