Steamers v Hawkes Bay

[Snollygoster]

1. Aidan Ross (15) – Te Puke Sports
2. James O’Reilly (10) – Te Puke Sports
3. Siegfried Fisi’ihoi (29) – Rotoiti
4. Tom Franklin (1) – Opotiki
5. Keepa Mewett (25) – Tauranga Sports – Captain
6. Hugh Blake (9) – Te Puke Sports
7. Mitchell Karpik (1) – Rangataua
8. Tyler Ardron (1) – Papamoa Rugby Club
9. Richard Judd (1) – Mount Maunganui Sports
10. Mike Delany (62) – Mount Maunganui Sports – Vice Captain
11. Joe Webber (1) – Te Puke Sports
12. Terrence Hepetema (8) – Te Puna
13. Lalakai Foketi (19) – Rangataua
14. Monty Ioane (12) – Greerton Marist
15. Chase Tiatia (15) – Rangataua

Reserves:
16. Sabastian Siataga (9) – Mount Maunganui Sports
17. Solomona Sakalia (28) – Mount Maunganui Sports
18. James Lay* – Whakarewarewa
19. Culum Retallick (103) – Tauranga Sports
20. Jesse Parete (10) – Rangataua
21. Luke Campbell (5) – Te Puke Sports
22. Liam Steel* – Mount Maunganui Sports
23. Elijah Nicholas (8) – Te Puna

[GagaBoy]

I'm ok with this squad. Same line up as last week looks good. I'd like to see the scrum improved and the loosies need to step up and make their mark. Changes in the reserves will hopefully add some spark. Looking forward to it!

[Snollygoster]

Yes, I agree with what you say Gagaboy. Its nice to see us not plagued with injuries yet and still having options with selections.

A couple of surprising stats from last weeks game across the whole competition :-
Joe Webber was the third equal for the number of line breaks.
Ardron (the invisible man)was fourth equal for lineout catches.

Even though the Ranfurly Shield is virtually meaningless these days this chart (which shows the permutations of potential challenges) may interest some.

As usual I'm primed for tomorrows game but know that we will have to improve in so many areas.....showing up for a full 80 minutes will be a start !

[GagaBoy]

Thanks for pointing out those stats - I thought Weber had a quiet game, but I was wrong. Not sure how I missed that, hope he backs it up. In regards to Ardon, we have a great lineout. It is not just about the jumpers, but the organisation and structure. This all went to heck when Mewett went off early, he is the organiser. I'd like to see some more physicality from Ardon this game. I think he has the potential. Maybe the backtracking scrum dealt him a cruel hand vs Northland.

Thanks for the shield chart - it interests me! So we need to rely on Otago (unlikely) or Southland (improbable).

[KiwiPie]

@GagaBoy said in Steamers v Hawkes Bay:

Thanks for pointing out those stats - I thought Weber had a quiet game, but I was wrong. Not sure how I missed that, hope he backs it up. In regards to Ardon, we have a great lineout. It is not just about the jumpers, but the organisation and structure. This all went to heck when Mewett went off early, he is the organiser. I'd like to see some more physicality from Ardon this game. I think he has the potential. Maybe the backtracking scrum dealt him a cruel hand vs Northland.

Thanks for the shield chart - it interests me! So we need to rely on Otago (unlikely) or Southland (improbable).

Webber scooted past his marker on the left wing a few times in that first half - he's got very acceleration and fast feet. Nobody scooted past any markers in the 2nd half ...

Seeing the number of games shows how inexperienced that team is - lots in their 1st or 2nd season.

This is the game we need to win - we are The Bay

[taniwharugby]

@KiwiPie only caveat I would add, is the guy Webber was facing in Jordon Hyland is a converted centre and not a quick one of them, let alone a wing...

But he did look sharp.

Reckon you guys should roll HB!

[uklad]

Monty ioane would look good in a chiefs shirt! Not to sure about the number 8. Looks the part but might take him a while to settle. Delany still Class! Foketi looks handy too. Franklin is a beast

[Higgins]

Well done you guys. I was hoping for better things but alas it was not to be. You at least have something to look forward to ahead, sadly the same cannot be said for us Magpies supporters.

[ACT Crusader]

Good solid win by Bay. Forwards really stepped it up I thought and gave the backs a decent platform.. Some good impact from the bench too.

[Nepia]

Yep good win by the spew, spit, poke my self in the eye - Bay. Way too good for us tonight.

[GagaBoy]

Yep, I'm happy with that. Good all round performance. Particularly impressed with the defence for prolonged periods. Good line speed which shut them down. Scrum got better as the game progressed and I feel we dominated the lineouts. Well done - first trophy for the year!

[Snollygoster]

Yep, I'm rapt !

There was so much to be pleased about. After last weeks game I was almost going to give up watching them (I do that at least once a year) but now have hope.

The stand out factor was the defence for me. Apart from a couple of glowing mistakes they all tackled themselves to a standstill.

Delany is still class despite his age (and despite my initial skepticism)

Tom Franklin must be one of our best signings for a while.

Ioane and Webber are excitement machines.

We had the second to worst kicking success rate last year. Delany has missed one kick in two games !

There are no serious injuries thus far that I am aware of.

Theres still loads of room for improvement though.

Our scrum looked shaky initially.

Our once dangerous rolling maul doesn't look so dangerous anymore.

I wonder if Ardron will get the starting No.8 position next week ?

So I can't wait for Wellington. Their star studded line up will be a real test.