By Chris W.B

The Christchurch Carnage have definately been the surprise packets of Division Two, week in and week out the New Zealand team matches its 'big brother' in Premier League blow for blow. But last week they were out-gunned by New England, and this week faced an equally dangerous Wollongong side out to improve on woeful recent seasons.

From the outset it was clear how both sides intended to play this game, as the ball got spread wide and it got spread fast. Defence didn't seem to be the objective of either side, and it didn't take long for someone to score. Ten out from his line, Doyle had a brain explosion and tossed a nothing pass into touch, giving the 'gong some good possession. Captain Simon Woolford received a bullet-like Kimmorley pass to score the opening try and make it 6-0.

It took next to no time for Christchurch to hit back, Jason Ferris on the end of a superb passing play which saw the ball kept alive by no less than six sets of hands. The finish was impressive, Ferris still having to beat Woolford to score and make it 6 apiece.

The defence stabilised somewhat, with neither side missing a tackle for the next ten minutes. John Doyle made ammends for his earlier mistake, chipping over the Wollongong line and offloading inside to Toa Koh-Love, who scored untouched to make it 12-6. The Carnage looked on fire when they did it again from the kick-off, passing early saw Stuart Spruce clear down the sideline. He scored out wide, but Singh nailed it to put his side up 18-6 in the 21st.

The Wollongong Destructors didn't let the scoreline get them down, continually plugging at the Christchurch line in search of a gap. Like so many other tries in the game, it was a line-break which lead to the next try. Graham Bond fended left and right like a dervish, beating three players to score a marvellous solo try to make it 18-12 in the 33rd.

HALFTIME: Christchurch 18 def. Wollongong 12

The second half began as a carbon copy of the first, with both sides throwing defence out the window as they sought to play expansive football. It only took three minutes for Wollongong to level the score, David Westley making a half break and offloading to Scott McLean who streaked away to make it 18 all.

In true tit-for-tat style, Christchurch were next on the board when Stuart Spruce grabbed his second off a towering Ferris bomb. Converted, Christchurch lead 24-18.

Wollongong hit back in rapid fire fashion, scoring off their next touch after a lacklustre Christchurch set. Veteran winger Jamie Ainscough showed his class, dancing and pushing his way to the line from twenty out to level the score at 24 all again.

With the game in the 51st minute and the scoreline already at 24 all- there looked like there was a massive scoreline on the cards. It looked set to devolve further when Brett Kimmorley scored a try off a Danny Orr bananna kick and it was converted to make it 30-24.

David Westley put the game out of Christchurch's reach, or so it seemed, when he burst through some soft defence to make an enormous sixty metre run and score a try. Westley celebrated with a grid-iron style spike- proud in the knowledge he had done his part to push his side towards the finals.

The Carnage had the time to get back in it, but didn't put the hard yards in, a token try in the 76th to Ferris not enough to dampen the sting of departing the finals in embarassing fashion- 36-28.

FULLTIME
Wollongong 36
Scott McLean
Jamie Ainscough
Grahem Bond
Brett Kimmorley
Simon Woolford
David Westley
Opan 6/7
def.
Christchurch 28
Stuart Spruce 2
Jason Ferris 2
Toa Koh-Love
Singh 4/5

PoM Points
Vinnie Anderson.......3
Jamie Ainscough......2
Jason Ferris.............1