Port Adelaide Rugby Union FC

Match Reports

V Souths loss 5 - 19

The first game of the season, and with a new side. We have picked up a number of good young players this year, which gives all the appearance of being far more productive than the 2007 season. The club has 3 teams this year (A, B & 4ths). Numbers at training have been excellent with competitive sessions taking place on a regular basis. Guys keep up the good work.

The First grade captains for the year are Tevita Rakiawasi and Stu Giles, with James Lodge (the old stalwart of Port) is the club captain. These guys will lead the Pirates into the clubs 75th season, what a great privilege.

The performance of the team didn't reflect on the score board, as Souths capitalised on our mistakes. We didn't really do anything wrong, just a couple of missed tackles which cost us on the score board.

Once we build on the continuity of the team we should start stringing some good wins together.

Best players were our back row of Tim, Phil (a new player from the RAFF) and Simon, JP had a good first up game back in A grade as well.

Vs Onkas win 76 - nil

Well a week of contrasting results. This was the shot in the arm the club really needed with the club producing nearly 150 points and conceding only 5.

The team played well together and capitalised on every mistake that Onkas made, and punishing them on the score board.

It was also refreshing to hear the captains reiterating that the team stick to the game plan when the score started to blow out.

This was where it was hard to pick best players as all played well. The pick of the bunch

Good work and lets keep the momentum going.

Vs Adelaide Uni win 12 - 10

This was the first taste of winter and playing in WET and cold conditions. And we didn't handle then to well, playing allot of dry weather rugby. This was a stark difference from the last week against Onkas. We were very lucky to get away with a win, BUT a win is a win regardless and we need to get on the training track and fix these issues for the Woodville game next week.

We showed glimpses of of good form in attack and especially in defence, when Uni peppered our line late in the second half. We held them out to secure the win.

Good performance from Chris Sweet in the front row (dispatching his opposite number before half time). Stu Giles had another good game leading from the front, Tim Mattin was also a good performer from the side of the scrum and Enosi Tukana played well in the backs.

We are now 2 wins from 3 starts, we loose our state players this week so the club will need all hands on deck to keep that winning feeling. The state players are Tim Mattin, Tevita Rakiawasi, Enosi Tukana and Mathew Hopkins (a new prop from the RAAF). Good luck guys from all the club.

Vs Woodville Win 13 - 10

We started off like we were looking for a massive percentage boost, 10 minutes in and we were 10 points up. That is where it all went wrong. We allowed Woodville to dictate the terms of the game and we followed suit. Not sticking to any sort of game plan. We were lucky to get away with the win if it were not for a man of the match performance from Phil Whitcher at number 8.

Vs Burnside Loss 17 - 32

This was a different affair from last week. We played with allot more structure and at time enthusiasm. What did let us down was ball handling. We bombed a couple of what could have tries by poor handling skills. There were no tries in the first half Pirates down by just 6 points to nil. We started the second half with a try, then allowed Burnside in almost straight away.

In general our mistakes cost us dearly on the score board and the game. Once we fix our little mistakes we will be definitely heading in the right direction.

Brighton next week will be the real test, training a must for all.

Vs Brighton Loss 15 - 31 .

The coaching staff were not that concerned with the loss all that much, but the ball handling error rate was very high and of great concern. This eventually cost us dearly on the score board. The game plan we have in place is starting to come together, and when we fix up our handling errors we will definitely heading in the right direction. Over all it was a good performance from the players against the always highly fancied Brighton. We will get them next time.

Vs Old Cols Win 24 - 18

The Pirates played very well. The players stuck to everything they were told to do thus reaping the rewards of victory against the second placed side. Old Cols were never out of the game, being kept in it by a few mistakes we made with ball handling. Again they cost us on the score board. Nigel Lam Sam had a great game scoring 3 tries.

Next week we get all of our representative players back, so everyone will need to train to be considered for the higher grades.

On another note I would like to congratulate Mathew Hopkins (prop) for being named the RAAF forward of the year. Congratulations Hoppo from all your mates at the Port.

Vs Uni WIN 40 - 15

This was start of the game plan beginning to work. The team began the game starving Uni of the ball for the first 20 - 25 minutes. The players believe that what has been put in place on the training track will work. This was an excellent performance with 15 players actually doing what was asked of them. We let in a couple of late trys from silly mistakes, but all in all a good performance.

Vs Woodville WIN 15 - 14

This was the game most want to forget. After a good performance against Uni we decided that arguing with the ref and ourselves was more fun than playing rugby. We allowed ourselves to be brought down to Woodville's level and we stayed there,m only getting out of jail at the last moment.

A game to forget.

Vs Brighton WIN 27 - 12

After the performance against Woodville, we needed to step up against the competitions leaders (and undefeated) Brighton. And we did. This game was the evidence that the Pirates are evolving as a genuine threat. We took everything from the training track into the game, Brighton had no answer to the 15 man game implemented by Port. After a 5 all half time score and behind early in the second half, we didn't panic, we stuck to the game plan which at times was executed flawlessly. Good performances by all very hard to pick a best player.

Vs Old Cols WIN 22 - 10

The team backed up the win against Brighton with another good performance against Old Cols. We let ourselves down on occasions with little mistakes that should have been trys. We had 2 debutants in the front row Darren Bulldog Stanton & Mark Pommy Howells, both played good solid games and matched their more fancied opponents. Again we had 15 players willing to play together and (most of the time) stick to the game plan. On occasions we tried to score off every touch, and to just fall short. Our defensive effort early in the second half was exceptions holding fast for nearly 10 minutes as Old Cols were peppering our line.

If we keep this sort of game going we will definitely give the competition a good shake.

Vs Souths Loss 25 - 19

This one we let slip away. We had the opportunities to put Souths away but failed to do so. First up tackles missed and trying to score off every phase. We need to be allot more patient and believe in ourselves.

Vs Onkas WIN 19 - 14

This should have been an easy win game for us seeing the score line last time. However, our 2nd & 4th grades were playing at Lyndoch. This put some pressure on the A grade as we only took 15 players with us. The conditions were more suited sailing or kite flying as the wind was blowing a gale. This match turned into a real struggle. We missed some opportunities that should have made the score line larger in our favour. Again trying to score off every phase is really not helping us as we turn over possession when this happens. But any win at Onkas is a good win.

Vs Burnside Loss 26 - 13

We were sitting in 4th place coming into this game needing to win to maintain the momentum. That we didn't do. Our discipline let us down here and cost us the game. This game was like the first game when last met Burnside, a struggle leading up half time. From there the game opened up a bit. We struggled to make the first tackle in a contest which immediately put us on the back foot. What really hurts and every player should feel the pain is that we are now out of the 5, BUT have won more games than the 2 teams above us. The lack of bonus points is going hurt us come finals time. It is back to the drawing board for the coaching staff as we have Brighton away this week.

On a bad not note we have sustained 2 season ending injuries (hand & knee), and 6 injuries that require 4 - 8 weeks off all of which are either hand, finger, wrist and rib injuries. It is lucky we have a little depth this year.

Vs Brighton Loss

This was always going to be hard considering the number of players out injured or away on holiday. We started out scoring a try within the first 2 minutes of the game. Probably a mistake as Brighton never really looked back from there. PJ stepped up for his first game at fly half and did well. Again missed tackles cost again.

V Woodville. Loss

Well this a game that everyone will want to forget. Going down to THEM at home, not a good sign from a team that wants to play finals football.

Lets not talk about this one then...............

V Old Cols Loss

With players still out in key positions we performed far better than the week before. There were glimpses of the game plan working. However the penalty count us was horrendous. We need to be more disciplined around the ground if we intend to play in the finals.

We did pick up a bonus point that put us back into the top 4 (where we belong) at the expense of Souths, who incidentally forfeited against Brighton........unforgivable.

V Onkas - Win

We are now out of the top 4 and needing a much moral boosting win. And we go it. Any win up at Onkas is always good as they are a different prospect up there. Still no players coming back from injury, but the selected team played extremely well and came away with points.

V Souths – Win 48 - 5

This was a crunch game, the winner sneaking into the top four. And win we did. It was a comfortable win the end as Souths really no answer to the Pirates. We are now in the four to stay.

V Burnside – loss

This game was essentially a dead ruber as neither team could move from their position within the top four. We still had numerous players out with injury and illness, also players playing out of position. We didn’t want to our hand as we will play Burnside next week in the second semi final. So the loss didn’t come as a surprise but more enjoyment as we are back playing finals rugby (where we belong).

2nd Semi Final Vs Burnside WIN 24 – 21

What a different start to a day, it poured with rain during our warm up then beautiful sunshine for the game. This game was a real “slogfest”, with neither team really wanting to take control. We got out to a 12 – 3 lead early in the first half. Burnsides goal kicker keeping them I game with some accurate goal kicking. We started the second half scoring a try in the first 5 minutes. But Burnside weren’t finished with kicking another penalty goal and scoring a try (10 points) in the space of 5 minutes. They eventually scored out wide and converted to take the lead away from us for the first time 19 – 21. The players didn’t allow this to get them down and started grafting their way into Burnsides half. Very late into the game Burnside tried to clear whilst deep in their 22m only to have the kick charged down and the chase one by Stu Giles, the score putting us back in front. And this was the final score.

Our defence stood firm today as it has done for most of the season. We now take on Old Cols in the preliminary final to see who meets Brighton in the Grand Final.