A SERIOUSLY understrength Camden Haven Eagles Under 18’s Rugby League team took on the Old Bar Pirates for the second time in 3 weeks on Saturday. Proudly sponsored by North Haven Bowling Club, the Eagles were victorious in a sometimes spiteful match.
The game was transferred from Old Bar to Taree because Old Bar’s home ground was deemed to be unplayable.
The Pirates, who were playing their last game for 2012, employed niggling tactics to try to unsettle the Eagles and for a while they looked like paying dividends with the Eagles well behind on the penalty count.
There were several fights in the first 10 minutes and a brawl featuring nearly all the players erupted in the 15th minute.
The match officials missed some very vicious and illegal tackles on the Eagles and it was only a matter of time before the players took matters into their own hands.
When things had settled down, the referee called out both coaches and addressed them and both teams before he sent off a player from both sides. This seemed to calm the teams down and they settled in to playing football.
The Eagles started to hit their straps and after a shortened first half, led 12 - 4 at the break.
Coach, Brett Farnsworth, reminded the boys that, if they were to retaliate to the Pirates unsettling tactics, they ran the risk of being sent off and missing out on the upcoming semi final series.
He wanted the players to be patient with the ball, move it out wide at every opprtunity and to back up the ball carrier.
In defence he insisted on more talk and wanted the Eagles to move off their line to nullify the Pirates’ attack.
He was pleased with the way the game was shaping up and told the boys to play to their ability and adapt to the very wet conditions and the tries would come.
The Eagles took to the field in the second half and carried his instructions out to the letter. The Eagles scored straight after half time and forced the Pirates into error after error.
Straight, hard runnig and brutal defence saw the Eagles completely outplay the Pirates, with the only negative being a soft Pirates’ try towards the end of the game.
The final score was Eagles 34, Pirates 8. Try scorers were Jake Kingston (2), Tyren Trindall (2) Tom Wigman and Ben Lobston scoring 1 each. Alex Pearce kicked 3 goals and Tyren Trindall 2.
The Eagles will meet Wauchope, at Wauchope, next Sunday with the time to be advised.