Shoalhaven Continue Unbeaten Run

Shoalhaven have continued their unbeaten start to the season with a commanding 29 – 7 win over Bowral. In a high quality match at Eridge Park, Shoalies posted four tries to one to take full points from the IDRU Premiership Round 6 match to maintain third spot on the table behind fellow unbeaten leaders Avondale and Campbelltown.

After fifteen minutes of play the sides had exchanged converted tries but from that point on Shoalhaven took almost total command of the match repelling anything the Blacks could throw at them. Once again the Shoalhaven pack completely dominated their opponents at the scrum driving the Blacks eight back and taking several key Tight Head scrums.

The Shoalies very well organized defensive line proved impregnable for the Blacks who despite their best efforts couldn’t breach the well-constructed Shoalhaven defense. Making a very limited commitment to the breakdown in defense, virtually just the tacklers, Shoalhaven maintained numbers in their defensive line which the normally fluent Blacks attacking unit found impossible to breach throughout the match. The home sides only try coming from speedster Henry Yuill who used his lightning speed to get outside the defensive line to score in the 17th Minute.

Yuill’s try came five minutes after the games first try to Jimmy Hendrix who scored after a length of the field counterattack from the Shoalies. With play sweeping back and forth with both sides starting at pace, a charge down near the Shoalies line almost resulted in a try to the home side. From the 22 restart the kick was once again charged down but Shoalies recovered and took play deep into the Bowral 22. Bowral fumbled when trying to clear their line and the ball was quickly spread to wingman Hendrix to score.

The seven all score-line after seventeen minutes was the closest Bowral came to the competition points as Shoalhaven went on to dominate proceedings from that point on.

Shoalhaven’s very strong forward pack led by George Miller, Duncan Maddinson and prop Will Ridley formed the foundation for the side’s effort. Tries came to Michael Raftery and Angus Maddinson as Shoalies frustrated the Blacks into errors and took full advantage with quick counterattacks to register points for a 21 – 7 halftime lead.

Within minutes of the restart after the break the mercurial Steven Brandon produced another remarkable attacking exhibition to lay on a try for his brother Mark. Steven took possession of the ball from a Blacks kick literally within meters of his own line. In a blistering run up the eastern side of the field he left half a dozen defenders in his wake before being surrounded by several defending players on half way. With a swerve and a clever dummy pass he left three defenders sprawled on the ground before sprinting downfield to within meters of the Blacks line where he passed to Mark who scored in the corner for a 26 – 7 lead to the visitors.

The Blacks managed to muster plenty of attack in the remainder of the match but the incredible defensive performance of Shoalies denied them any real opportunity to score and salvage the match. This Shoalhaven side has conceded an average of seven points per match in their five matches to this point. They have conceded 33 points in all in comparison to the next best defensive sides Shamrocks with 72 and Avondale with 88 after six Rounds.

A non-stop performance from Shoalhaven Flanker Duncan Maddinson earned him the three points in the IDRU Player of the Year Award, with Steven Brandon taking two points and Bowral’s Jack Parsons getting one point.

Once again without Will Miller nursing a neck injury, the Shoalhaven pack was to a man outstanding with special mention to Duncan Maddinson, George Miller, Thomas Hill, Will Ridley and Ross Dunlop. On top of the incredible Steven and Mark Brandon the Shoalies were well served in the backs by Half Nicholas Redoletti, Fly Half Angus Maddinson and center David Priestman.  

Although very efficiently shut down in this match Bowral still showed plenty of spirit with their effort never falling away throughout. Best for the Blacks were Jack Parsons, Clancy Donan, Tim Lewis and Feterika Sage.

Shoalhaven 29 (Jim Hendrix 1 try, Michael Raftery 1 try, Angus Maddinson 1 try, Mark Brandon 1 try, 3 goals, 1 penalty goal)

Def Bowral 7 (Henry Yuill 1 try, Lachlan Huntington 1 goal)

Other Match Results

Camden 18 Def Kiama 17

Campbelltown 24 Def Shamrocks 22

Vikings 31 Def Tech Waratahs 28

Avondale 34 Def University 26