by Mark Letcher

It was the seasons' last evening of rugby between the Raiders and Wanderers and all was at stake for these two teams for the third meeting between them in a month.   

The Raiders have been having a great season and started as minor premiers. Considering that a year ago they were playing in the fifth vs sixth game they have done well.

It was another fantastic night for rugby and what a game this turned out to be.

Wanderers kicked off playing from right to left in front of the grand stand. They immediately applied pressure and pressed inside the Raiders' 22m. The Raiders were penalised three successive times in these first five minutes in their own half, but managed to hold the Wanderers out.

After a big push right up to the Raiders' line after the third penalty, Raiders' skipper Aiden Chesterfield characteristically managed to come away with the ball from the maul under his posts and charged up the middle to be reeled in around the 10m line.

Wanderers got the ball back and pushed back towards the line from here and scored. They missed the kick for a 0-5 lead.

The scene was now set and the game was on. Wanderers went straight back on the offensive, but Chaseley (15) came away with the ball on his 22m and ran straight up the right 15m line with a characteristic run.

He kept the ball in hand and made for the line with the cover defence coming across to cut him off. We thought he had been bundled out with a high tackle, but there was some discussion between the ref and linesman and the try was awarded.  Brendan missed the kick, so 5-5 was the score.
   
The Wanderers came back urgently from the restart, but the Raiders absorbed the pressure again as they have done all season and patiently worked back towards the middle.

Brendan had a good run off a lineout and made some ground, but the Raiders were penalised just into Wanderers' territory. Some chat from the Wanderers and the ref reversed the penalty which Brendan kicked to the left corner for a lineout.

A good lineout and good work saw them go over about 15m in. Aiden (skipper) touched down, but from good forward play. Brendan missed the kick again for a 10-5 lead.

Shortly after the restart Wanderers had a scrum on Raiders 22m line from which they were awarded a free kick from early engagement. They ran this but again were held up.

Raiders were given a scrum feed and a solid scrum saw them able to clear well. The ball didn’t go out the wanderers No 14 took a run up field. This guy can run! The Raiders managed to scrag him and come away with the ball and worked their way down into Wanderers' 22m again.

They got good ball again but it was knocked on in the midfield. Wanderers Kicked deep off the scrum, but Vinnie retrieved the ball and made his way back up field in his normal slippery run.

The final play saw Raiders awarded a penalty on the Wanderers' 10m which saw Brendan put straight through for a very handy 13-5 lead going into the break.

Raiders kicked off the second half but it went out on the full. Middle scrum for the Wanderers and their No 10 went on an electric run to his left and made it over in the corner. Raiders' defence were in a mess here.

The kick was missed again for a 10-13 score. Raiders kicked off deep and the Wanderers marched back up to the halfway, but knocked on. They got the scrum against the head here and again the No 10 was prominent and fed to the No 15 for a converted try. 13-17 Wanderers. The Raiders' defence was showing some cracks here, uncharacteristically.
 
Raiders found some urgency and worked their way up the right side. Wanderers' No 10 was yellow carded for “discussing” with the ref.  An intense battle ensued for the next 10 minutes with play going up and down with both teams digging in. No quarter given.

Raiders were penalised and Wanderers put the penalty over to extend the lead to 13-20 with seven minutes remaining.

Raiders kicked off and seemed to let the returned No 10 through them again. He ran the length, but they knocked on close to the line. Raiders cleared their line from the scrum and worked on with Aiden going over again to level the scores after the successful kick. 20-20. Right on the final whistle.

The rules dictate the playing of two more halves of 10 minutes each way, so a short break was had and it was back to the start.

Raiders got a penalty on the Wanderers 10m line which Brendan knocked over. 23-20 after five minutes extra time.

Some over enthusiastic tackling from Wanderers' No 12 saw him sent off for 10 minutes for flipping his opposite number in a tackle. Raiders kicked deep into Wanderers half from the penalty and started working off a good lineout, but turned the ball over right at the line.

Wanderers set the scrum and won it, but excellent pressure from Liam saw Connor touch down after the clearing kick was charged down. Great pressure just when it was needed. Brendan knocked that over too for a 30-20 lead.

An interception saw Wanderers take off down their right touch line, but were caught around the 22m.

Second half time to change ends. 10 minutes to go.

Wanderers collected a penalty after a Raiders infringement and they cleared to the Raiders' 10m on the left side. Another good Raiders line out and Aiden (14) had a great run up to the Wanderers' 22m again where he collected a penalty for a high tackle.

Raiders kicked for the corner for a line out option, but the throw was crooked. Wanderers ran off the scrum and after No 10 chipped it over the Raiders' defence, they collected and ran the rest of the field to get the next 5 points. The kick was good and the score was now 30-27.
 
The last few minutes were intense as both teams ground it out. What a game to watch! Quite tense on the side as well.

Raiders forced a penalty on the Wanderers' 22m, but Brendan missed this one.

The ref blew for full time after an epic encounter. The Raiders had done it. Grand final champions. 30-27 the final score and jubilation amongst the Raiders' fans.
 
Congratulations to the coaching team and especially to the boys for their great efforts and achievements.

Man of the Match was Brendan Nastasi so thanks again to Sam from Port Putt Putt for this sponsorship for this final game. Best forward went to Shaun Foster and best back to Brendan. Aiden Chesterfield was the player of the finals.

Thanks for reading and a fine season for these Under 16 boys.