If ever there was another game worthy of a GATORADE commercial, the Grand-Final between the Canterbury Titans and Hawkesbury Valley was it!
Pre-match breakfast
The Titans gathered at Wills Ground for a pre-match breakfast at 8am, which was purchased and prepared by the Titans hard-working team manager, Alexis Tasker. The team enjoyed bowls of Nutra Grain and fresh fruit which was washed down with fresh juice. During the course of breakfast Assistant Coach Sean spoke to the team and informed them of how this day was going to be the Titans’ day of reckoning, and how they were going to vindicate themselves and become the number one team in Sydney. In turn each player was individually addressed and informed of how he was an integral part of the team, with particular emphasis being on the gifts and talents he brought to the team as a collective. As the team continued with breakfast the Titans management discussed the weather. It was evident that the day was going to be quite hot and as a consequence an innocuous decision was made to purchase a tub of Gatorade. Generally speaking the Titans run on the smell of an oily rag, which of course it is in addition to some water and oranges. Eventually breakfast was concluded and the Titans were herded into the vehicles that awaited them. At 10am the Titans’ motorcade departed Wills Ground for Concord Oval.
Concord Oval
The Titan's arrived at Concord Oval at approximately 10.45am. On entering the ground the team immediately made its way into the change room in preparation for the pre-match warm-up. As to team commenced its warm-up it became overly obvious that the heat of the day was going to be a major detriment to our larger boys and as a consequence hydration was carefully monitored. Given the heat it didn't take long for the team to warm up as they went through the drills and manoeuvres they had practiced on so many prior occasions.
The team completed its warm-up at approximately 11.25am, and headed back to the change room. As the boys entered the change room they were unusually quiet; generally speaking they are normally boisterous and talkative before any game, but it was well understood by all that the game today was going to be like no other. The atmosphere was sombre, and concentration seemed to be etched into each boy’s face as he made his final preparations. It was as if each Titans player had unknowingly transcended from that of a schoolboy rugby player to that of a professional.
With final preparations finished Coach Sy made his final address to the team. As he spoke he made them acutely aware of the arduous task at hand. In doing so he informed the team that Hawkesbury Valley was not the same team the Titans had met on the other two previous occasions. Coach Sy went on to add that the Hawkesbury Valley team which was going to face the Titans today was a team that was focused, tenacious, and well drilled; a team with only one desire; to beat the Titan's. Coach Sy continued and asked all present to purge all previous assumptions they held about Hawkesbury Valley.
The ultimate motivation for the Titans came when Coach Sy stated the reality of the Titans position; the reality being that the Titans, for all of its achievements in the western zone competition, had been unfairly ignored by both the Sydney and NSW selectors; that this ignorance was a travesty, and for the team to showcase its talent and let all and sundry know, especially the selectors, that the Titan's was a force to be reckoned with! With five minutes to kick off Coach Sy called the team to huddle. With the team circled in the huddle Coach Sy gave his final words of advice and with that reverential silence descended upon the team until they left that change room for the field.
First Half
As earlier predicted Hawkesbury Valley came out with all guns blazing and for the 10 minutes of the game Titans were entrenched in their own half repelling the continuous attack of the Hawkesbury Valley team. After absorbing the early pressure the Titans launched attacking raid down the left flank through Outside Centre, Rhys Armstrong, which was stopped only metres from the Hawkesbury goal-line when the ball went into touch. Regrettably this raid resulted in devastating blow to the Titans, as Rhys suffered a game ending ankle injury. This injury did not perturb the Titan’s as they received the ball from the ensuing lineout. From here it went to Fly Half, Connor Fox, who chip over the defence, and ran through to score a try next to the goal posts. This try was converted by Conner and at the 13th minute of the game the Titans were up 7-Nil.
The re-start from the kick-off was somewhat of a repeat from the first tens minutes of the game, with Hawkesbury again entrenched in the Titans’ half. The Titans’ attack was very positive however it became very clear that the Hawkesbury outfit had done their homework as they neutralised each raid. Soon enough Hawkesbury had the ball in hand and with the assistance of numerous penalties on the Titans’ goal-line, Hawkesbury were soon able to cross over underneath the posts for the equaliser. This try was converted and at the 20 minute mark of the game it was 7-7.
With this try the Titans changed tactics which resulted in better penetrating attacks. They also stepped up another gear and took control of the game, where they eventually set up siege in opposition's half. This was only achieved through the great work of the Titans forwards who set the platform on which the backs launched their attacks. Hard metres were gained through the pulverising runs of the Titan's tight five. In support at the rucks and mauls were the Titans tenacious loose forwards, the Tasker twins and Hector Titterton. At the lineouts Hector also proved invaluable by not only securing the Titans ball, but that of the opposition as well.
Ultimately good possession led to another Titans’ attack when Titans winger, Robert Taufa, received the ball on the Titans 45 meter line and stampeded his way past the 22 meter line of the opposition. This run by Robert had the crowd on its feet as he smashed his way through the skittled Hawkesbury defenders. Robert's solo effort soon led to another try when a Titans’ ruck was formed on the 10 meter line of opposition's half. From the ruck the Titan's Full Back, Michael Morgan, gathered the ball, ran to the line, and with a routine draw and pass Michael put Conner in for his second try. Conner again converted his try and at the 23 minute mark the Titans were up 14 -7.
Within five minutes of scoring the last try great forward play brought the Titan's to the halfway line. From the ensuing ruck the ball was passed out to the backs where Michael upon receiving the ball on the wing made a scintillating 50 meter run down the sideline to score the Titans’ third try. The steady boot of Conner slotted the conversion and at 28 minute mark the Titans were in front leading 21-7. The final two minutes of the first half saw the Titans camped on the opposition's 22 meter line, however strong defence from Hawkesbury Valley kept the Titans out and the whistle blew for half-time.
Second Half
The first five minutes of the second-half were like the first with the Hawkesbury outfit putting on the pressure in the Titans’ half. It did not take long for the Titans to reverse this position as soon as the Titans forwards were again setting up strong platforms from which the backs were able to attack. In the fifth minute of the half the Titans were presented with the perfect opportunity to dispatch the opposition; however a fundamental error soon proved to be very costly. Hawkesbury took full advantage of this crucial mistake. Within a couple of minutes the Hawkesbury attack went right and on receiving the ball the speedy Hawkesbury outside centre punched through a gap in the back line and passed the ball to his winger who had the try line in sight with no-one to beat. In what can only be described as a ‘never say die’ effort, Michael turned in hot pursuit, gave chase, and made a try saving tackle just inside the right-hand touchline of the Titans’ 5 metre line.
Buoyed with confidence, Hawkesbury were soon able to gain the ascendancy. At this stage of the game it was unmistakably obvious that the Titans forwards were succumbing to the oppressive heat. The opposition were acutely aware of this fact and with each attacking raid they were able to gain easy metres. This renewed confidence eventually led to the opposition being camped in the Titans’ half. Constant defence, coupled with a somewhat unwarranted heavy penalty count eventually saw Hawkesbury Valley over the line for their second try. Hawkesbury were unable to convert their try and at the 41 minute mark Canterbury were still leading 21-12. With 12 minutes left in the game only the dogged defence of the whole Titans pack was keeping the resurgent opposition out, however this defence was also energy sapping and the Titans boys were out on their feet. Another heavy penalty count against the Titans in this period of the game again favoured Hawkesbury, and as a consequence they went in for their third try of the match. This try was converted and Canterbury were now only leading 21-19 with tens minutes to play.
From the kick-off the Titans were able to obtain possession of the ball. Shortly thereafter a limited opportunity presented itself to Robert just inside the opposition's half. Robert upon receiving the ball from the Titans captain Junior who managed to draw the inside centre on attack, spied a gap in the back line and with a solo monumental effort he stampeded, stepped, and swerved his way to spirit lifting try under the goal posts. This try was consequently converted by Conner in the Titans pushed out to a 28-19 lead with 7 minutes to go in the game.
The last of the Gatorade was consumed by the Titans as they made their way back to receive the kick-off from Hawkesbury. The Titans knew full well that opposition was not going to give up so easily especially when given there was still enough time to snatch a victory. This point was proven correct, for Hawkesbury soon had the ball within a minute of the kick-off. What then followed was yet another Hawkesbury offensive as wave after wave of attacks battered the defensive line of Titans. With five minutes to go Hawkesbury were launched a desperate attack from the 40 meter line of the Titans half. From the resultant play Hawkesbury were awarded another dubious penalty and with approximately 3 minutes left on the clock they launched one last offensive. By this time the Titans were spent, however the team lifted for one last desperate effort, and once again fought off continuous waves of attack from the Hawkesbury pack thereby depriving Hawkesbury of precious time. The effort was not enough to prevent Hawkesbury from scoring their fourth try; however it was enough to win the game, and soon after converting, the ref blew the whistle, the Titans had won 28-24 and became the new Premiers for the Metropolitan Western Zone Under 15’s for 2010!
