GWYDIR River Rats travelled to Armidale on Saturday to take on the UNE Barbarians in two grades and in typical New England weather, with a top temperature of just five degrees and a strong gusting southerly blowing, conditions were set for a tough day at the office.
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Third grade kicked-off with a full pack of Rats and a couple on the bench, which was a good indication of how far rugby has come in the shire.
It took 15 minutes for the first points to be scored by the Barbarians, and after a solid contest from the start, the Rats struggled with a lack of possession as the Barbarians dominated the rucks and line-outs.
The score remained 7-0 until five minutes into the second-half, when the Barbarians crossed again. They gained momentum and looked to take complete control of the game.
Down 14 -0 the Rats failed to show any signs of a comeback.
The Barbarians crossed again just five minutes later to take the scoreboard to 19-0 with 20 minutes to play. When the Rats finally clicked into gear it led to a try to Adrian Lee, after a cheeky little grubber through the line and a re-gather to score under the posts.
At 19-7 and from the re-start, young Tim Flick broke the line and raced 50 metres, to be pulled down 20 metres short of line. Three phases later and Steve Garret crashed over for a top try. With the scoreboard at 19-14 it was finally game on with 10 minutes to play. It did not last long though, missed tackles saw the Barbarians score another two tries to take the final score to 31-14.
Second grade kicked off with Rats running with the wind. The boys were expecting a physical game and were prepared to be bombarded by an in-form Barbarians outfit. Using the wind and maintaining possession saw Andrew Riley run in for a try for the Rats after just six minutes. Andrew Webber missed the conversion from out wide, but two minutes later Webber was in for the second try, which he did convert, again from out wide, but from the other side of field.
The Rats backs showed discipline and strong play from the forwards, along with good tactical kicking game saw Jesse Rogers cross the line following a good back-line passage, and the Rats were ahead 17-0 only 15 minutes in. Five minutes later and Rogers crossed again to take them to 22-0.
Jason Mack scored six minutes later after a blind side move from the back of the scrum. Matt O’Connor took the ball and shot it to him.
The Barbarians scored before half-time and the teams went into the sheds with the score board at 29-5 to the Rats.
The second-half was a tougher affair and no points were scored until the final five minutes and the final score was a win to the Rats 36-10.
The win at Alcatraz came at a cost. Andrew Riley tore a hamstring and is not expected to return until the finals.
Add this to Clayton Rigby’s bruised kidney from last week, and the club has lost two quality players for most, if not all of the remaining season.
The Rats take on St Albert’s this week.
A bonus point win here would see them join Albies with 31 points on the ladder taking them into equal fourth position and finals contention for both second and third grade.
