Our normal game reporter was away and instead we have Coach Sean’s game notes:
Incredibly wet day
Slow start for both teams out of the gate
8th minute Nanaimo breaks through after building pressure and scores under the posts 7-0 Nanaimo
16th minute JBAA gains a penalty at half and kicks the ball out 10m from Nanaimo goal line. Subsequent maul is held up. This will become a common theme before half.
Lots of back and forth over the next 20 mins. A very stop and start game that our newly formed front row did a great job against a very experienced Front Row of Nanaimo consisting of 2 Tide props.
From inside the JBAA 22m line, Mostyn clears the ball the length of the field and secures a 50-22 for JBAA. This was the momentum we needed to begin to build pressure.
26th Minute JBAA line out just inside the Nanaimo 22m line. a 15-20m maul ends up collapsing and the ball is turned over.
After a poor exit strategy from Nanaimo, JBAA has another LO 10 meters from Nanaimo's goal line. This maul is 'held up' again for the ref. The 5 or 6 celebrating JBAA players would say otherwise.
Under consistent pressure over the last 15 minutes, Nanaimo intercepts a pass and runs 40m to relieve the imminent danger of JBAA points .
37th minute however, After a poor Nanaimo clearance kick, a string of JBAA passes and exquisite counterattack through the hands of Keith Graham to Isaac Gonevou leads to a JBAA just before half
7-5 Nanaimo at Half
2nd half starts with a little more energy from JBAA but were unable to turn it into points.
46th minute Nanaimo kicks a penalty 10-5 Nanaimo
Soon after that proceeding KO, JBAA spreads the ball with width, attacking on the Nanaimo 40m line as Mostyn Findlay pokes a kick through for Taine Clague to touch the ball down for JBAA second try of the afternoon. 10-10 as the conversion is missed again.
As the bench players begin to roll in, each one makes a noticeable impact with their energy.
Peter Masimo tackle after tackle
Craig and Lucas unlocking the outside channel with crisp miss passes from Mitch Sora
All this attacking pressure across the full field which has turned into a mud puddle culminates in the 70th minute when Lucas Neilson breaking on the edge of the pitch, executing a world class chip and chase off his right foot that the Nanaimo player touches down in the end goal a split second before Lucas can reign it in. Goal line drop out.
On the goal line drop out, Keith Graham, takes the ball after it bounces off Taines head, 35m on whats become a classic Keith Graham try of making 4 defenders miss. Keith scores 15-10 good guys.
With 5 minutes left to play, JBAA strings an attack out to the left after a quick ball at the breakdown. Peter to Kieth, Keith doing his best Lucas Neilson impression kicks the ball overtop of the last defender only to have the ball roll out a few meters short of the goal line.
After a few more kicks, drops, scrums and knock-ons the game ends 15-10 for JBAA.