The Shanghai Traders have been one of many unexpectedly competitive sides in this year's Peter Sterling Division competition, but today's clash with Fairfield would be a real test of their premiership credibility. Playing, not only to avoid elimination, but to perhaps convince the ASRL of their long-term viability- the Traders will be hard pressed to beat a side that has the record of being the only Division Two side to ever turn down the opportunity to promote.
Shanghai Traders Fairfield Stallions
1 Marcus Caster 1 Adrian Vowles
2 Chris Cahill 2 Stuart Kelly
3 Ryan Girdler 3 Matt Adamson
4 Jamie Burrows 4 Seamus O'Grady
5 James Prichard 5 Shane Elford
6 Julian O'Neill 6 Slick Cupples
7 James Croaker © 7 Dominik Bush
8 Nathan Sutton 8 Danny Sculthorpe
9 Kaz Utsunomiya 9 Mick Higham
10 Fili Lolohea 10 Terry O'Connor
11 Nick Fozzard 11 Robert Salvatori
12 Francis Stephenson 12 Tony Price ©
13 Neale Wyatt 13 Scott Magro
++Interchange
14 Jaiden Love 14 Andy Lynch
15 Richard Fa'aoso 15 Rocky Elsom
16 Calvin Jones 16 Ryan Lawton
17 Ryan Thumper-Knox 17 Chris Tyrie
The game started off in the most awful of ways for both sides, veteran centre Ryan Girdler dropping the ball on only the first tackle after a heavy clash with Fairfield halfback, Dominik Bush. While Girdler berated himself, Bush was rushed to the sideline for pain-killing injections after what looked to be a badly fractured nose. The ballsy halfback, to his credit, did not leave the field.
Despite this early setback, Shanghai were the stronger of the teams in the opening stanza, riding the affections of a large Chinese crowd as they out-defended the highly favoured Stallions. In offence, however, the Traders showed their inexperience as they continually dropped ball in good field position. Gradually the Stallions were able to work their way back into the clash, and crossed for the first try of the match when Adrian Vowles backed up a Micky Higham break to go over in the corner. The usually reliable Scott Magro was unable to convert from out wide, giving Fairfield a 4-0 lead after just on fifteen minutes of play.
The try visibly lifted the Sydney based club, who well and truly fired up as the game continued. Indeed, their pack continued to dominate the clash but were unable to extend their lead thanks largely to the level heads at the back for Shanghai. In the 19th minute Ryan Girdler was able to put his side on the scoreboard, a penalty for offside allowing him to reduce the defecit to two- trailing 4-2 with three quarters of the game remaining.
Shanghai fans sensed it as the game wore on, but the Traders just didn't look as switched on for their first (and possibly last) finals appearance as they should. Whilst Fairfield continued to make good metres and defend their own line grimly, only sheer desperation from the Traders managed to keep them in the contest. When Ryan Lawton was able to pounce on an erratically bouncing Slick Cupples grubber despite attention from Marcus Caster and Calvin Jones, it was indicitive of how underdone the Traders were. Scott Magro made no mistake with the relatively easy conversion, and with ten minutes of play in the first half remaining, the Stallions took a handy 10-2 lead.
Shanghai's task became harder just six minutes later, as Fairfield further extended their lead courtesy of another try from a kick. The Traders again proved unable to read the Fairfield kicking game, with Scott Magro weaving one between defenders for Seamus O'Grady to collect. The conversion was again unsuccessful, but the Stallions would go in to halftime with a handy two try lead, up 14-2.
HALFTIME: Shanghai 2 trail Fairfield 14
The second half began with a glimmer of hope for Shanghai, when Scott Magro knocked the ball on cold after a great Mick Higham short ball. The Traders continued their lacklustre game, however, squandering the opportunity when Julian O'Neill punted the ball far too deep and handed possession over without a fight. Despite their own efforts, Shanghai were kept in the game by the referee, who sin-binned Robert Salvatori in the 46th minute for the most pathetic of offenses. The Stallions had forced Shanghai to a five metre loss after five tackles, pinning them on their own line, when Salvatori was sent to the bin for a play the ball infringement. Even the most one-eyed of Shanghai supporters were baffled as the gifted backrower walked despondent to the sheds.
All the opportunities in the world couldn't make Shanghai look good, however, and when Ryan Lawton was able to cross for his second despite his side being down a player- the cards were well and truly on the table for the Traders. Lawton's try was a thing of beauty, the Stallions bullocking their way downfield before Scott Magro stamped his authority on proceedings with a stellar short-ball to the big forward. Magro converted the try he created, and the Traders looked as good as dead at 20-2 down.
Ryan Girdler, playing what seemed more and more likely to be the final game of his career, refused to die wondering- and his efforts in attack were, perhaps, the sole highlight of a dour half in attack from the Chinese club. The referee again kept Shanghai in the game when, in the 60th minute, he denied Seamus O'Grady his second try. The video referee ruled that O'Grady, in pursuing a spiralling Slick Cupples bomb, had been offside. The game continued on at its slow pace, with Fairfield dropping back into second gear. A more fired up side would have taken this opportunity to storm back, but aside from Girdler and Caster, the Traders seemed uninterested in the game. When Dominik Bush was able to run at the line, chip, and collect the ball despite the attentions of Jamie Burrows- it was well and truly over for the home side. Bush, playing on despite his injury, was kept from running it under the posts by Shanghai's best, Ryan Girdler. Magro's conversion was waved away, but Fairfield had made a loud statement already- through to the second round of finals.
Ryan Thumper-Knox, playing his last game in Shanghai colours, added some respectability to the scoreline when he crossed in the 75th minute, and it was perhaps fitting that Girdler was the man to score the last ever points by Shanghai as an ASRL club. The fulltime score of 24-8, hardly doing justice to just how poorly the Traders had played in their final game as a franchise.
FULLTIME
Shanghai Traders 8
Ryan Thumper-Knox
Girdler 2/2
lost to
Fairfield Stallions 24
Dominik Bush
Ryan Lawton 2
Seamus O'Grady
Adrian Vowles
Magro 2/5
PoM Points
Scott Magro................3
Ryan Lawton...............2
Slick Cupples..............1
I solid game of football was played today by the Stallions. I've been worried in recent weeks that the hunger for a premiership had been lost and our players were just looking forward to their new clubs for next season.
Not only am I pleased about the effort and skill, but our depth considering our two major injuries. Unfortunatley Dominik Bush and Danny Sculthorpe have been ruled out of next weeks clash and will join Rupert Matakamikamica in rehab.
Otherwise a solid performance. I am disappointed in Scott Magro however. After a blocked move to the Falcons, Magro seems to be lacking the confidence and hunger. Hopefully we can work on things this week. We've got a big chance to win this!
