Ron Massey Match Report R20 v Cabramatta Mounties recent up and down form continued when they went down to the Cabramatta Two Blues 24-16 on Saturday afternoon at Mounties Sporting Complex. Mounties were again slow out of the blocks and on the back of a couple of early errors and a penalty to march Cabra up the field the Two Blues used brute force to cross on the 5th tackle after Mounties defended their line valiantly. After an attacking raid went wrong Cabra again received a penalty and used their big men to get into a good position. Mounties turned them away but a 5th tackle kick saw the left winger touch down just inside the line to take a 8-0 lead after 21 minutes. Mounties could not hold onto the footy and invited Cabra down for yet another shot at their line. Cabra could not get through the defence but a grubber kick was spilled by Mounties and Cabra were now in a commanding spot at 14-0 with ten minutes remaining in the first half. A relieving penalty saw Mounties get an opportunity to work out of the red zone. Jacob Mayer, Jason Green, Grant Lahey and Fred Pakutoa stepped up to the mark with strong running and quick play the balls. Brett Lahey took advantage of the momentum to get Theo Leato into space and he strode through to lessen the damage as the home side went into the sheds trailing at 14-6. Both teams struggled to hold onto the ball early in the second stanza and it was Cabra that took first blood with a nicely timed shot that left the Mounties edge defenders guessing. In the next 15 minutes Cabra were continually attacking the Mounties goal line but could not deliver the knockout blow. Mounties got their chance and a great cut out ball found Gus Aiga cross out wide in his return from a long injury lay off. Lahey converted the extras to put Mounties in the hunt. Mounties had a further three opportunities in the next few minutes but did not capitalise. Cabra broke the game open when their big left centre capped a barnstorming game to put the visitors out by twelve with nine to go. Mounties were not throwing in the towel and it was Lahey combining with Francis Vaiotu this time to put Aiga over for his double. Lahey missed a tough kick and the eight point deficit proved too big with only minutes on the clock. Jason Green was strong off the bench while Jacob Mayer put in his usual 50 plus tackles in the middle. Brett Lahey kept probing without luck and Theo Leato was a threat coming back with the football. Gus Aiga was named Players Player for his busy work rate and his great finishing. Mounties will be disappointed with a poor performance with the ball but take heart from a courageous defensive effort where they were up against a side that completed at 86% and had 61% off possession. Next week they are at home again where they will look to get back in the groove against Burwood at Mounties Sporting Complex. #UpTheMulga
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 00:03:38 +0000
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