Bowral Back With Win At Home

After a hiatus in 2020 brought about by Covid, Bowral have returned to Illawarra Rugby with a resounding 33 – 15 victory over a gallant University side at Eridge Park on Saturday. With many familiar faces on deck and with new Halfback Thomas Keft directing traffic, Bowral kicked off their season with all guns blazing showing their expansive game of old.

Speedster Henry Yuill crossed for three tries taking full advantage of his Halves wonderful backline service with former IDRU Player of the Year Lachlan Huntington once again igniting many of the Blacks attacking raids.

In contrast University had plenty of new faces but none the less took the match right up to Bowral before some poor handling and discipline by the students late in the match saw Bowral run out comfortable winners. Paul Tuala made an eye-catching return from illness figuring in both University tries and showing that he is still a force to be reckoned with. With several 1st Grade debutants making a good first up impression old stagers Wayne Ngatai and Charles Curry were prominent with Country Rep Takunda Chimwaza making a strong return from a long injury lay off.

The early stages of the match saw Bowral camped in the Uni half of the field but some resolute well organized defense from the Bulls saw Bowral unable to rack up any line breaks. Huntington kicked the first of three Penalty Goals after three minutes but as the Blacks raided away in the Uni half for near on twenty minutes, the University defensive line remained unbroken.

At the twenty minute mark Tuala ignited a Uni attack from inside his own half charging up field before putting wingman Zintori Makene away down the right flank. The scrambling Bowral defense closed the raid down within meters of the line but after several forward charges at the line veteran hooker Wayne Ngatai forced his way over for Uni to take the lead 5 – 3 after 21 minutes. Makene kicked a Penalty Goal minutes later for the students to extend the lead to 8 – 5 with fifteen minutes left in the half.

Once again the Bulls defense repelled all that Bowral could throw at them as Huntington kicking two strong long range Penalty Goals for Bowral to take the lead 9 – 8. Two minutes from the break a glaring defensive error in the outside backs for Uni saw Henry Yuill in space and showing his customary speed the wingman touched down wide on the left. Huntington’s most difficult kick of the day into the wind went wide but Bowral went to oranges with a deserved 14 – 8 lead.

Minutes into second half Yuill was over again but the try was denied by Referee Andrew Strode with a knock on detected in the lead up to the winger crossing the line. Two minutes later Yuill scored his second try without a hand being laid on him from a superbly executed scrum play from close range. Skillful Bowral No.8 Tim Lewis took the ball from an attacking scrum ten out running to the right showing the ball to the defense. Faking a pass to the outside backs Lewis found Yuill running off his right shoulder at pace with Yuill shooting through the defensive line to score. Huntington converted for Bowral to go out to a 21 – 8 lead.

The Students were not ready to go away just yet and had the better of the next twenty minutes, putting plenty of pressure on the Blacks who started to lose their way as Uni dominated field position but lacked precision in attack to take full advantage. Eventually it was Tuala who put on one of his trademark scrum-base charges to the right from forty out. Drawing several defenders out of the line Tuala delivered the ball for an overlap on the right with wingman Makene presented with a clear run to the line. Makene converted from wide out and it was game on at 21 – 15 to Bowral.

University were soon back attacking the Bowral line bringing the game right up to the home side. From the bench veteran Bowral front Rower Todd Pearce was thrown into the game with twenty left on the clock bringing a new resolve to the home side as some handling and disciplinary issues started creeping into the Uni effort. With Pearce re-organising the Bowral Forwards effort the Blacks took play right up field into an attacking position. After an extended period of goal line pressure Lock Andrew Angellella forced his way over to score a converted try for the Blacks to go out to a 28 – 15 lead with less than 10 to go.

Yuill completed the scoring with his third try just prior to fulltime after receiving a trademark long cut out pass from Huntington for the final 33 – 15 score line.

Whilst the match was a bit scrappy at times both sides showed enough to suggest that they will figure prominently in this year’s competition. The performance of new Bowral Halfback Thomas Keft earned him the maximum points in the IDRU Player of the Year Award, with former Award winners Paul Tuala and Lachlan Huntington taking the minor points. With 2018 Premiership winning coach Gene Fairbanks back involved with the Blacks side the home side showed plenty of signs of the style of football we can expect from them going forward. Up front Clancy Donan, Jack Parsons, Feterika Sage and Tim Lewis worked hard throughout with Keft, Huntington and center Hunter Schrader-Wright also prominent.

University were well in this match before some disciplinary lapses late in the match took there toll. Match fitness played a part in their effort here and will only improve the sides performance in the weeks ahead. With the experience of Paul Tuala, Charles Curry, Wayne Ngatai and an eye-catching performance from Takunda Chimwaza returning from a long injury lay off new coach Scott Hatch has plenty to work with.

Bowral 33 (Henry Yuill 3 tries, Andrew Angellella 1 try, Lachlan Huntington 2 goals, 3 penalty goals)

Def University 15 (Wayne Ngatai 1 try, Zintori Makene 1try, 1 goal, 1 penalty goal)

Other Match Results

Campbelltown 41 Def Camden 20

Shamrocks 47 Def Tech Waratahs 14

Avondale 40 Def Vikings 26

Shoalhaven V Kiama Deferred to July 17.