Good Start to Mudchooks’ Season
[ Saturday, 8 May 2010 ]

The Bungendore Rugby Football Club enjoyed a wonderful start to the 2010 season with a huge day of rugby at Bungendore on Saturday 8th May. Following a highly successful function where former All Black, Canterbury Crusaders player and current Wallabies coach Robbie Deans enjoyed lunch and interaction with over 90 rugby fans, the Mudchooks won their first game of the season against Harden 32-0.

The game was definitely one of two halves with the Mudchooks making a nervous start to the game and leading by only 5-0 at half time. However, once the second half commenced the team settled down and, with a change of personnel in a couple of key positions, the Mudchooks began to play at a level approaching their potential to finally win convincingly. To Harden’s credit, the team they fielded at this game was a vast improvement on teams that have visited Bungendore in the past two years. The Harden forwards, particularly the big back row, really put it to the Bungendore forwards at the breakdown, to the extent that the Bungendore forwards found it very difficult to get over the advantage line. However, the Bungendore forwards also defended very well to keep the Harden team scoreless at half time.

In the second half the Mudchooks backs made better use of the dominance in procession they enjoyed and ran in 5 unanswered tries. A highlight of the second half was the try scored by winger James Pryde (aka Butters), which is only the second he has scored in 5 years with the Mudchooks. The try started with some good work from set play from the forwards, the ball was swung wide through the backs to Sandy Beggs who cut back inside to deliver a nice pass to Butters who was backing up beautifully and was able to score in the corner. Robbie Deans was watching this play from the same side of the field and cheered encouragement as hard as any of the Mudchooks supporters as Butters went over the try line.

Coach Shane Botham said after the match that, the key to the Mudchooks succeeding this year was clearly displayed in the second half. “When the boys settled down, began to do the basic things well and took control of the game and ball possession, they scored tries” he said. “If we can get all the players to Thursday night team training to improve our team work, we will consolidate the good form we have been showing during the pre-season games and will do well this season.”

The players awarded the best and fairest points for the game were Tymlock 3 points - Andrew Turner; Bungendore Rural Supplies 2 points - Morne Ferreira and Botham Fencing 1 point - Woody Fraser. The Royal Hotel Chick’s Pick went to Peter Ballard and Woody Fraser also received the Pro Patria Players Player award in recognition by his mates of another inspiring game as team captain.

The Mudchooks have a bye next week, 15th May, with the next game being away to Crookwell on 22nd May.