THE reserve grade match between Batemans Bay Tigers and Moruya Sharks was a tough affair at Mackay Park on Saturday.
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More pics from the game here.
Prior to the game the Tigers had boasted that it had not been beaten by a Moruya reserve grade side for 35 years.
If this was not enough incentive, the Sharks were also keen to keep its unbeaten record in tact for this season.
It was a brother v brother, mate v mate affair as eight past Moruya players lined up for Batemans Bay.
Early on, both teams were aggressive in defence and showed enterprise in attack and it appeared that the bigger Tigers’ forwards would be too much for the Sharks.
The Tigers were first to score when Lee Baghurst was able to cross out wide, with the score remaining at 4-nil for much of the first half.
It took a piece of brilliance from young five eighth Gavin Olive to finally put the Sharks on the scoreboard after 25 minutes.
He dummied and stepped through a hole at the 50-metre mark, before he raced downfield and used his swerve and step to leave the Tigers defence clutching at air.
The Tigers were able to regain the lead just before the half-time break when Will Thomas scored to have the teams heading to the sheds with the Tigers holding a slender 8-4 lead.
After the break, the teams continued the battle and neither side took a backward step.
It took another piece of individual class from Olive for Moruya to finally hit the lead.
Olive skirted the defence on the right hand edge and then chipped infield off his left foot.
The ball was perfectly weighted, sailed over the fullback and sat up in goal for Olive to pounce on for a brilliant solo try.
Craig Cottington converted to put Moruya in front 10-8.
The Sharks’ defence was solid and continued to frustrate the bigger Tiger pack and shut down the Bay’s backline.
The Tigers were also defending well and neither side could take control.
The Sharks’ win was sealed when Lee Nye scored.
At the final siren Moruya had a slender 14-8 win.
Moruya Sharks president Dave Farrell said Olive was a standout for the reserve grade side with his “class and creativity around the rucks”.
Lance Nye was also singled out for his strong performance and Lee Nye led by example and played himself to a stand still.
“Barney Campbell was another player who continues to improve and again gave one hundred per cent in what was a memorable team performance,” Farrell said.
Moruya 14 (tries: Gavin Olive 2 and Lee Nye, goals: Craig Cottington) defeated Batemans Bay 8 (tries: Lee Baghurst and Will Thomas).
Jones’ bag of tricks
THE under 18s clash between Moruya and Batemans Bay kicked off proceedings at Mackay Park on Saturday.
The last time these two sides met, the Sharks were able to take two competition points with a come-from-behind win against a depleted Tigers outfit.
On this occasion both teams were near full strength and for the first time in many years, Moruya had a full bench of reserves to choose from.
The Tigers were the first to post points through Luke Wilson, who scored after finding space on the fringe of the ruck.
The Sharks’ resolve in defence lifted after allowing points and the visitors took the lead after centre Indiana Jones scored twice.
His first was from a blind side raid which caught the defence napping and his second was a 60-metre solo effort.
Josh English, playing in only his second game for the Sharks, was providing great ball distribution from dummy half and created opportunities when given a quick play-the-ball.
English posted his own four-pointer just prior to the half-time break, which allowed the Sharks to head to the dressing sheds with a 16-4 lead.
Neither side could score early points in the second half.
However, Moruya looked to be the likely winner when Jones crossed for his third try and a 20-4 lead.
The Tigers’ Lachlan Knox gave his side some hope with a late four-pointer but Moruya responded through Casey Jackson, who skirted the Tigers’ defence before he dived between two tired defenders to score.
At full-time the Sharks were deserved 24-10.
Moruya Sharks’ coach Lee Nye said he was happy with the team’s effort on the day and gave praise to all of the boys for their commitment and team performance.
Jones and English were acknowledged by the referees for their performance in the 3-2-1 tally and Moruya’s Chris O’Meley, Jesse Robertson and Byron Brunhuber were also impressive.
Moruya 24 (tries: Indiana Jones 3, Josh English and Casey Jackson, goals: Jacob Zutt and Niles Brigden) defeated Batemans Bay 10 (tries: Luke Wilson and Lachlan Knox, goals: Lachlan Knox).
Tigers exquisite in exhibition
THE Batemans Bay Tigers might be missing from Group 16’s women’s league tag competition but showed it could be a force with a 22-14 win against the Moruya Sharkettes.
The Tigers have been busy recruiting and under the watchful eye of Sheree Potts, are developing into a strong side.
The Tigers had a few players with a quick turn of speed and had the more experienced Sharkettes on the back foot, skipping out to a 10-4 lead at the half-time break.
Moruya lifted its level of play in the second stanza but it was not enough to breach the gap.
The difference was the speed and skill of Batemans Bay’s Sheree Coubrough, who scored four of the Tigers five tries and showed that she will be a player for the Tigers to build a team around.
The best for the Sharks was Taylah Connaughton, Ellie Doherty and Tash Brunhuber.
“Each of whom tried hard all night in what was a good team performance,” Farrell said.
Batemans Bay 22 (tries: Sheree Coubrough 4 and Rameekia Fields, goals: Sheree Coubrough) defeated Moruya 14 (tries: Erika Saines, Maisie Place and Hannah Cadogan, goals: Hannah Whiting).