Print friendly version | Back

Chooks Beat Old Foes
[ Saturday, 5 June 2010 ]

The Mudchooks continued their good form this season with their fourth straight win, beating Taralga 25-17 at Bungendore on 5th June.

The game was the usual hard fought, tough, and at times acrimonious contest that the Mudchooks have come to expect against their traditional rivals Taralga which, unfortunately, was marred by too many penalties being awarded against both sides.

After a vigorous start from both teams, Taralga put the first points on the board with a penalty goal early in the first half. The Mudchooks came back strongly with driving runs by both the backs and the forwards giving the team domination in both possession and territory. However, they were unable to consolidate their advantage with pushed passes causing the ball to be dropped four times when tries were begging to be scored. Finally, Eddie Zarb broke through the Taralga defence and crashed over for a try which Brett Watson converted.

Taralga’s defence cracked again in the 26th minute when Jeremy Taylor raced over for a try after some excellent backing up. Brett Watson kicked the conversion and then he kicked a penalty goal with ten minutes left in the first half. With the restart of play, the Mudchooks attacked for phase after phase while Taralga defending very effectively until finally Jeremy Taylor streaked over for another try just before half time.

The Taralga team came out very strongly in the second half hammering the Mudchooks’ line time and again. The pressure and penalty count against the Mudchooks began to mount until ultimately a Mudchook player was sin binned for ten minutes. During this sin bin period, and despite some vigorous defence by Bungendore, Taralga scored their first try and converted it. In fact, the defence may have been a bit too vigorous, because just as the first sin binned Mudchook player came back onto the field, another Mudchook was sin binned for a dangerous tackle. Taralga scored and converted again during this second ten minutes sin bin period and, just as the second sin bin player came back on, a third Mudchook was sin binned. Despite being one player short for the third consecutive ten minute period, the Mudchooks fought back with a driving kick downfield followed up by a series of strong rolling mauls until a desperate tackle from Taralga dropped Hayward Fraser’s charge just centimetres from the try line.

Finally, with five minutes remaining in the match, Brett Watson kicked a field goal from 25 metres out to put the Mudchooks eight points in front to win the game.

Tymlock 3 points again went to Woody Fraser for another strong game. Bungendore Rural Supplies 2 points went to both Eddie Zarb and Adam Gowen. Royal Hotel 1 point went to Brett Watson. The Botham Fencing Coach’s award went to Peter Ballard and the Chick’s Pick was given to Rodney Clarke. The next Mudchook game is against Royal Military College at Duntroon on 19th June.