Match Recap: Hornets vs. Rowdies 04/25/15.
This past weekend saw the Hornets cross the river to play the Kasperville Rowdies. Finally, a nice grassy pitch, a change from the knee grazing fields of Forest Park. On a warm muggy Saturday, with the heavens waiting to open, both teams found the going difficult with some back and forth play. The Rowdies broke the ice at the 14 minute mark with a try from some hard running out wide setting them up inside the 22 with a try following 05. With many questionably close lineout calls and the penalties building the Hornets found the going tough, but ground easy to make, only to have it taken away by another questionable penalty. At the 31 minute mark, 10 meters inside the Rowdies 22, from another strong Hornet scrum, No. 8 Joey Smelt picked the ball ran wide to the open side and an offload to Kasper had him score our first try under the posts. An easy first conversion for Juice the Boot. 75 With the rain continuing and a ball difficult to hold onto, both teams started putting the ball to ground. At the 55 minute mark inside the 22, Matt Merrick took a quick tap from a penalty and skirted passed several defenders and into the try zone. An easy conversion kick for Brad Kasper, his first after weeks away partying. 145. The off and on rain, wet slippery ball found the Hornets the only team using the boot to get the ball downfield in conjunction with the usual strong runs from Nick Kalist. Another knock on from the Rowdies inside their 22 saw another strong scrum win from the Hornets. With another great pick from the back of the scrum Joey Smelt ran between defenders to score at the 66 minute mark. Another good kick from Kasper increased the Hornets lead 215. In the dying seconds of the match another penalty in their own 22, another quick tap from Matt Merrick, not known for either his pace or step, saw him blast past several tacklers with a quick left step followed by another had him score his second try close to the posts. Another good kick from Kasper seconds before the final whistle increased the Hornets lead to 28-5.
Man of the Match.... Joey Smelt
Scrums....... Hornets 11/13 86% Rowdies 7/9 78%
Lineouts......Hornets 7/14 50% Rowdies 3/5 60%
Penalties.....Hornets 18 Rowdies 7