Billed as ‘overachievers vs. underachievers’, today’s clash between the Capetown Ravens and the Sydney Oilers had plenty going for it. Although Capetown hammered Sydney 30-0 at Newlands a few months ago, their home record had been soiled last week, and they’d be out to tidy it up. Add to this the fact that Bossert was painfully aware of his inability to beat coach, Chris Walker-Bush, and today’s final was arguably the game of the round.
Capetown Ravens Sydney Oilers
1 Freddie Banquet 1 Jason Robinson
2 Michael Robertson 2 Luke Covell
3 Robert Miles 3 Daniel Fitzhenry
4 Bronsen Saunders 4 Ben Harris
5 Steve Williams 5 Brent Tate
6 Andrew Mehrtens © 6 Ben Kennedy
7 Derek Gateshead 7 Brett Kimmorley ©
8 Noah Sete 8 Roy Asotasi
9 Joost van Derwestuizen 9 Kyle Bryant
10 Mark Merideth 10 Jason Ryles
11 Braam van Straaten 11 Nathan Hindmarsh
12 Sean Carstens 12 Ali Lauitiiti
13 Malcolm Alker 13 Travis Norton
++Interchange
14 Alan Chemenskwi
14 Willie Peters
15 Andrew Dunemann 15 Mark O'Neill
16 Tarzan Malaguna 16 Aaron Cannings
17 Luke Rooney 17 Bronson Harrison
Brett Kimmorley started the game for the Oilers, and it was fitting that former Oiler Andrew Mehrtens was the first to touch the ball. The big Newlands’ crowd roared, and for the younger Oilers, it became clear just why the Ravens have a twelve and one record at their home ground.
Capetown’s start couldn’t have been better. Their first set was flawless, and to follow it up, Sydney’s Ali Lauititi made a stupid error and dropped the ball only fifteen out from his line. Compounding this, the Oilers gave away a penalty for offside. Mehrtens showed no respect for the Oilers’ defence, rejecting a shot at goal and instead taking a quick tap. Three tackles in, Michael Robertson out-stepped Jason Robinson to score the opening try after only two minutes. Mehrtens wasn’t able to convert, and the Ravens lead 4-0.
Finals specialist, Travis Norton, was the catalyst for Sydney’s first real attacking opportunity. The veteran lock showed his class, a dummy fooling young Derek Gateshead and creating an overlap for the Redlands bound star. It took a copy-book tackle from Freddie Banquet to avert a try.
The two sides exchanged some enterprising sets of six, and it was clear from the defensive lineups that both sides had done their research. Whilst the Oilers tried to pressure Mehrtens and Gateshead in the middle with Ben Kennedy- the Ravens all but eliminated creative lock Travis Norton from the game by marking him with defensive workhorse, Malcolm Alker.
Mehrtens continued to show his general disdain for the Oilers in the 7th minute, again forgoing a shot at goal to kick for the line. His cocky attitude paid immediate dividends, a long pass from North Sydney bound Joost van der Westuizen putting Malcolm Alker in between Tate and Harris. Mehrtens took the shot at goal easily, and it was 10-0 to the promoting South Africans.
The kick-off continued an Oilers’ nightmare, Kimmorley stupidly going short and giving Capetown possession in good field position. The error was made worse by some slow defence from the Oilers, and ‘no name’ prop Noah Sete crashed over for Capetown’s third. Mehrtens missed again, but a 14-0 lead after only eight minutes didn’t bode well for Bossert’s Oilers.
20-0 looked to be on the cards only minutes later, when Steve Williams muscled his way over out wide. However, Tate had muscled him over the line before he could ground it, a tribute to the never say die attitude that had seen Sydney enter the finals after looking down and out only a few weeks ago.
It was twenty minutes before anyone else could cross the white-wash, or even come close, with both sides penning each other into the space between opposing twenties. Capetown seemed content with this arrangement, continually putting the ball deep into Sydney’s end and then defending. Kimmorley and Willie Peters took it upon themselves to put points on the board, the pair using their kicking games to great effect, but never able to completely get around the Ravens’ defensive line. It took one error to break the dead-lock, and it came from usually flawless Luke Covell. The rookie winger came in too early, and Freddie Banquet set off on a devestating seventy metre run which ended with a short pass in field to Andrew Dunemann. The pass cut out Robinson, who watched helplessly as the five eighth scored beneath the posts. Mehrtens hit the conversion sweetly, and the game was as good as over at 20-0 to the home side.
Capetown looked to rub salt into the wound on half-time, but Mehrtens’ try was called back for a knock-on in the play the ball. The siren sounded, and a 20-0 lead seemed too much for even the classy Oilers’ side to drag back.
HALFTIME: Capetown 20 lead Sydney 0
Bossert’s motivational speech must have been of epic proportions, because the first set of six from the Oilers was their best by far. Jason Robinson fired like we all know he can, muscling his way through a weak Luke Rooney tackle and then embarking on a weaving run downfield. Although Banquet was able to tackle him, the Ravens were slow in getting back, and Brett Kimmorley scored a soft try for the visitors. The conversion was missed, amazingly, but 20-4 gave Sydney the glimmer of hope the needed.
The next five minutes really tested Capetown’s maturity, as Sydney camped on their line. Jason Ryles was twice denied by big hits from Braam van Straaten, whilst a deft Brett Kimmorley kick came to nought thanks to the leaping ability of young Luke Rooney. Whilst Capetown’s defensive intensity couldn’t be questioned, their maturity in attack definately could. With a sixteen point lead, the Ravens took their opposition lightly, and were continually made to pay for it. The likes of Jason Robinson, Brett Kimmorley, and Jason Ryles continually defused dangerous situations with level heads and tough hits.
The break came for Sydney in the 62nd. Brent Tate started the movement when he broke free from a Brett Kimmorley flick pass, he cantered down field and was tackled by Rooney- who conceded a penalty and earnt himself ten in the bin. The Oilers took full advantage of his absence, Jason Robinson finding a hole in the Ravens’ defence to score Sydney’s second. Covell again missed the vital conversion, leaving the Oilers twelve adrift at 20-8.
The kick-off was more of the same, Sydney right back on the attack thanks to some stupid penalties from the South Africans. Braam van Straaten and Freddie Banquet took on the mantles of leadership though, and whilst van Straaten defended grimly, Banquet made incisive runs into the Sydney line. The Frenchman and South African combined in the 68th, the second rower scoring a vital try and virtually putting Sydney’s hopes to bed. Mehrtens’ poor night continued, but the 24-8 lead with ten to go seemed to be more than enough to assure Capetown of a week off.
And it was more than enough, the Oilers coming undone in the final ten to not even pressure the Ravens’ line. The prime offender was Kimmorley, who was clearly trying too hard to impress, and made an uncharacteristic amount of errors. Fulltime sounded, and the dejected Oilers left the field. For Bossert it means another year in the Division Two competition- as well as farewelling the likes of Betham, Swain, and Mehrtens- all of whom will stay on with their current clubs as per a trade clause Bossert instituted.
The Walker-Bush hoodoo continued for Bossert, whilst Capetown will get a rest week. The Oilers, sadly, exit the 2003 season.
FULLTIME
Capetown 24
Braam van Straaten
Michael Robertson
Noah Sete
Andrew Dunemann
Malcolm Alker
Mehrtens 2/5
def.
Sydney 8
Jason Robinson
Brett Kimmorley
Covell 0/2
PoM Points
Braam van Straaten 3
Malcolm Alker 2
Ben Harris 1
Sydney still have a chance to win the Tournament so their Premier League dream isn't over yet.
I suppose you'd like an award for stating the obvious?
Chris
