Club pass stern test from Kowloon

CBRE Club 22-16 In Projects Kowloon

There was a tremendous sense of anticipation around the Club before this one. Kowloon have powered up their side, bringing in quality imported players in key positions. And they were up for this one. Every opponent so far this year has wanted to claim as their scalp the end of Club's unbeaten record, but I think Kowloon really believed they could do it. And, in the final analysis, Fred Moe's side weren't far away at all. This was perhaps the challenge and the scare Club needed, although they should take pride in having still managed to extending their unbeaten record while going through this.

At the beginning of the game, it was business as usual. A strong scrum from the Club pack, admirably fronted by Spizziri, Cameron and Hobler, allows Kibble to get the ball going forward, wrong-foot his markers and then feed the ball to Rouse, who charges over after delivering an emphatic hand-off to his would-be tackler. Kowloon answered with a penalty, but when Peter McKee darted over for a converted try in the 19th minute, nerves settled and the spectators settled back to sup their pints and see another side put to the sword by this season's resurgent Club.

Not so. It would be harsh to say Club dropped their intensity, but Kowloon certainly found their resolve at this point. It wasn't pretty, but it worked surprisingly quickly. Their big forwards crashed up brutally straightforward ball with little pace but a lot of power and they soon created enough space to score their first try, taking the score to 12-10 Club. After that, Kowloon dominated possession for the second half of the first half. Club's tackling became poorer after long periods of hauling down Kowloon's big men and defensive rucks and mauls and, when Club had the ball, their handling, passing and ball retention in the ruck often let them down. Another penalty to Kowloon and Club went into half time behind their opponents for the first time this season.

Skipper Tom Cameron told his troops at half time that they would need to be even more committed, aggressive and plain dogged to lift themselves to victory in the second half of a physical, messy and fired-up game. Australians have one word that encapsulates the attitude perfectly: mongrel. And Club did indeed tap their reserves of grit and meanness in the second half. Once again, it wasn't pretty. But Club raised the intensity, matched Kowloon blow for blow, and claimed their reward when Hussey capitalised on some confused defending to score in the 9th minute. Then Kibble capped an outstanding performance at outside with a lovely break to score and extend Club's lead to 22-13. Despite a robust performance in all other respects, Mike McKee endured a disappointing day with the boot by his standards and handed over goalkicking duties to Pat Fordham after he failed to convert Kibble's try. Kowloon pressed hard right to the end, kicking another penalty to put them within a converted try of victory, but Club's will to win was too strong and they hung on to emerge, ultimately, as worthy victors.

The match was also marked by the sad sight of 'Junior' Naylor being carried off with a torn hamstring, the amusing one of Richard Rouse standing his ground as two knuckle-dragging forwards marched menacingly towards him with murder in mind after an altercation at a ruck, and the bizarre one of Rory Hussey being yellow-carded twice in the second half for lying on the ball. Me, sir? Never...

Harps