Opponent: Kohlfeld Scorpions
Home/Away: Home
Location: Forest Park, Cricket Field
Score: Hornets - 34, Scorpions - 17
Man Of The Match: Billy Biggs
Recap
Match Recap: Hornets 34 Scorpions 17, 11/08/14.
Before we get into the game, we would first like to wish the Kohlfeld player who was taken off in the ambulance all the best for a speedy recovery and we hope to see you back on the pitch again soon!
The Hornets took on Kohlfeld in the last game before the winter break, looking to finish strong with 5 wins on the trot before the snow sets in. TheHornets were maybe a little over-confident at the start of the match, looking to score quickly without setting a good platform, leading to some over-enthusiastic handling mistakes. Kohlfeld took advantage and from a scrum their #15 sliced through the Hornets backline for a 60 meter gain, with quick ball from the next phase leading to the opening try of the match. Kohlfeld up 5-0 after 3 minutes. Kohlfeld quickly got back down the Hornet end and from a penalty tap move they scored again after 7 minutes with the conversion putting them up 12-0. The Hornets woke up after that and a nice backline move from Bearden to Don put Saak into space and he cut back infield past the Kohlfeld fullback for the Hornets first try after 9 minutes. The conversion narrowed the gap to 12-7. Hornets capitalized on the momentum and started to build phases. Don took a short ball off the ruck on the burst inside the Kohlfeld 22 and found Brad Christ in support to score out wide. Bearden’s conversion narrowly missed knotting the score at 12-12 after 12 minutes. After 21 minutes with Kohlfeld trying to work out of their own half, Brad Bearden charged down an attempted clearing kick and pounced on the loose ball to score making the score 17-12. But Kohlfeld came to play and answered back with an 8-man pick off an attacking scrum leading to another try down the right wing. The tough conversion sailed wide leaving the score tied at 17-17 going into halftime. With some fresh legs coming on in the second half, the Hornets started to find the form they had used to build a 4-game winning streak. Bearden nudged us ahead after 44 minutes with a penalty goal to make the score 20-17. After 58 minutes, Brian Saak scooped up a loose ball and smoked the cover defense for a 60 meter breakaway try. The Hornets lineout was firing all day and from an attacking lineout in the Kohlfeld 22, a maul set up from a lineout win saw Billy Biggs drive over for a try. With about 12 minutes to go, a terrible injury to one of the Kohlfeld players halted the game and both teams agreed it was for the best to end it there. Again, we wish him the best in his recovery. The win extended the Hornets winning streak to 5 games, and their overall record to 5-2. The bonus point should secure second place on the Cup table, trailing only the Royals who we will play again in the spring. Hornets need to keep the momentum when we get back in the spring and keep the fitness up over the break! Man of the match was a Billy Biggs in his last game for the Hornets before moving to Colorado. Thanks for your efforts over the years, we will miss you!
Score = Hornets – 34 (Tries: Brian Saak x 2, Brad Christ x1, Brad Bearden x1, Billy Biggs x1 , Conversions: Bearden = 3/5, Penalties: Bearden = 1/1), Kohlfeld 17.
Penalties = Hornets - 13, Scorpions - 6.
Scrums = Hornets - 5/6 (83%), Scorpions – 6/8 (75%).
Lineouts = Hornets – 6/7 (86%), Scorpions – 5/11 (45%)