IT was another home game on Saturday for the Bombala Bluetongues who were looking to put on another top performance.
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Broulee travelled well with many former players returning to the club as the season comes to the business end – and were always going to be a tough opponent.
The first half started at a frantic pace with Broulee looking to run the Bluetongues forwards about.
But Bombala’s forwards were strong at the breakdown and proved hard to break.
For the first 10 minutes both teams looked to stamp their mark on the game, and eager to score first points.
Bombala looked to have the best of the initial exchanges, with some good runs from Haywood Fraser, Ray Kading and Vin Papalii to put the home side on the front foot.
However, a slightly rushed approach proved costly.
Broulee’s backs were hard to contain, and with turnover ball they were quick to counterattack.
Some one-on-one tackles were not made and when the Broulee half back made a break from a lineout turnover, quick recycled ball allowed the inside centre for the Dolphins to cross under the posts, converted 7-0.
After the restart the Bluetongues put together some good platforms and had Broulee pinned down in their own 22 metres.
The forwards were able to punch through the Broulee line, giving space to the backs were again Rhys Crouch and Andrew Anderson in the centre’s were making strong runs.
Broulee’s defence held strong, frustrating the home team.
An early eye injury to Bombala’s half back Dane Cottrell saw him leave the field, which meant a restructure to the backline which wasn’t ideal and took some of the momentum out of the Bombala’s sails.
Broulee had a set game plan and with ball in hand, slowly built more pressure.
Some simple missed tackles proved the difference, allowing Broulee to break through the line where again their quick recycling of the ball gave their backline the front foot advantage with the home side scrabbling.
Broulee scored two more trys as the first half came to close, bringing the score to 21-0 just before the break.
Bombala pushed hard with five minutes of the half to go and had the visitors defending their try line.
Repeated infringements at the breakdown from Broulee saw numerous penalties in a row and they were lucky not to have a player sent to the bin.
However Bombala were unable to convert before the break, leaving the halftime score at 21-0 to the Dolphins.
The second half gave Bombala the downhill run.
Some well directed kicks had the Broulee team turning to retrieve the ball and kick to the sideline.
Bombala were looking good at the set pieces, scrums and lineouts were going well on their ball, and the Bluetongues were able to steal ball at the set piece from the opposition.
Some simple errors from the Bluetongues however proved costly.
A great bit of individual skill from their right wing – unconverted score sat at 26-0.
A strong build up from the Bombala forwards, with fresh legs in Linden Hampshire and debutant Kristen Elton got the Bluetongues on the front foot, followed by a strong carry from Rhys Crouch which had the Dolphins rushing to get back on side.
Quick ball from the breakdown to Will Beale at fly half got his outside centre Andrew Anderson one on one with his opposite number who he beat to score – converted 26-7.
Bombala were back in the game and were quick to push for further points.
A scrum to Bombala 20 metres out gave the Bluetongues a chance down the blindside,but again a pop pass to support runners didn’t stick and Broulee were able to kick clear.
The next 15 minutes saw a lot of one way traffic to Broulee, some well structured forward running, dragging defenders in gave their experienced outside backs too much room against a much younger opposition.
Several quick trys to Broulee pushed the score line out to 50-7 with 10 minutes to go.
A tap ball to Leigh Radford with a strong run straight through saw him score, which was converted on the siren, leaving the final score 50-14 to Broulee.
Points for Bombala this week were as follows:
3 points to Matt Gould (Dungaree Past Co).
2 points to Rhys Crouch (Jamie’s Bobcats).
1 point to Ray Kading (Monaro Farming Systems).
Commitment Cup went to Haywood Fraser (Linga Longa Cafe).
Thanks again to all our sponsors this year, your support is crucial to the club: The Globe Hotel, CWP Boco Rock
Wind Farm, IGA, Bendoc Park Herefords, Linga Longa Cafe, D & M Automotive, Monaro Farming Systems,
Dungaree Past Co, Brugalong Livestock, Village Ford, Landmark, Meadowbank Borders & Texels, W & W Hampshire
Plumbing, Jamie’s Bobcats, Goats Graphics, Superannuation Fund Audit Service, HJ Brown Constructions, Fast Cash
ATMs, Roger Pearce and Norm Talbot Transport.