Shoals first grade
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The Shoalhaven Ex Servicemen’s Shoals first grade team played their deferred matches against Bowral on Tuesday evening at Eridge Park, Bowral.
On a bitingly cold evening Bowral held on to defeat a surging Shoals by 40 points to 26.
Bowral played a dynamic and inspired first half of fast and open rugby to go to a 32 points to 7 lead at the half time break. Shoals regrouped during the break and came out of the blocks at high speed to open the second half. They won the half by 19 points to 8 but by then the bird had flown.
Bowral’s half and five eighth combination really tore Shoals apart in the first half. The scoreboard began to tick over just five minutes in the game when Bowral’s winger flew over wide out for the first try. Bowral played a masterful game, controlling space and possession. They went in for a further five tries to take a commanding lead.
Shoals really hit the ground running in the second half. They camped inside Bowral’s 22 metre mark for a solid 10 minutes before finally breaching the tough defensive shield with a hard-earned try. Bowral hit back with a penalty goal after being held out from a series of attacking phases.
However Shoals continued to have much the better of play and forced a penalty try at the 25 minute mark to make it a 14 point game. Bowral managed to stem the flow and hit back with a forward’s driving try at the 30 minute mark to move their margin out to a lead of 19 points. But Shoals showed their mettle by finishing the game off with a late try.
Shoals return to Rugby Park this Saturday for their home ground Digger Day clash with local rivals Kiama. Shoals 3rds open the afternoon at 10.30am with a top of the table clash with close neighbors Vincentia in what should be a marvelous game of rugby.
Shoals second grade
The WorkforceXS/Soilco Shoals second grade team played well in the first half to go to the sheds down by just 2 points with Bowral leading by 12 points to 10. This game was played at great pace but suffered a bit as a spectacle through some poor ball handling. However the closeness of the score made it an engrossing encounter in the first half. Bowral were the better side in the second half and scored 3 tries to nil to take the match by 33 points to 10.
Shoals third grade
The Shoals BaiMed/Bishops third grade team looked the slightly better side for much of the game but could not score when it counted. Many times they camped in Wollondilly’s 22 metre mark but just could not get points on the board in the second half. Shoals led by 10 points to 7 at the half time break after a great try to Dave Roper and two goals to Leith Cooper.
The second half however was disappointing for Shoals as a great defensive effort by their opponents kept them scoreless. The speed of Wollondilly’s winger and fullback contributed to the two tries their team scored in the second half.