We traveled to Saunders park for our third game of the season to play Tukapa so things weren't getting any easier for us looking for our 1st win...
It officially was captain Chris Gawlers 50th match so the boys were looking for a big game to honour that.
We started very well playing an expansive game stretching Tukapa from side to side. Our set piece was looking OUTSTANDING, our lineout was working well and scrum going well too.
After 10 resets, scrums we finally crashed over with a try to hard working lock Dylan Schuler and with Jackson Sinclair converting we were off to our best start of the season up 7-0 in the 12th minute.
At the 18 minute mark, Tukapa hit back after a couple of errors to tie the game up.
At the 25th minute, Kobe Sinclair scored a long range strike after a pin point accurate kick by his brother Jackson. Kusi regathered and batted it to Kobe to run 50 metres to score wide out starting a good game for all three for the day. Jackson converted a sideline conversion to give us a 14-7 deserved lead.
Tukapa kicked a long penalty to take it too 14-10.
Then after the kickoff, a great kick again by Jackson, fielded by Kusi fed to Kobe who made the last pass to Callum Tito to dash away to score again to give us 24-10.
Then at the 38 minute a big incident in the game when Cullum Tito was accidentally kicked in the jaw by a stray boot from a tackle he was assisting a ruck.
Very concerning he crashed to the ground and thankfully the ref stopped play for a number of minutes as Cullum was dealt with by both teams physio helping him. Luckily, the touch judge Chris Morrison, being a doctor so we thank them for that.
We changed to the second field and rejigged the backline and Daniel Crowley who was having a storming game at 9 moved to the midfield .
Kurt Hofman came on for his second game of the day and played his guts out. The guy has a huge ticker and a big future ahead of him.
After halftime Tukapa struck early to close the gap to 19-17 .
Then our last scoring play of the game after the 50 minute when Jackson Sinclair fielded a high kicked threw a slick pass to Kusi Druana who used his blistering pace to coast into the corner to make it 26-17 with another tough conversion 23 to play topping off a great day for him.
Then Tukapa scored to make it 26-24 we led until the 73rd minute when they crashed over again to take there 1st lead of the game and final score of 31-26.
A gutting loss.
For coastal a great effort by all a huge step up and an exciting game to watch!
I think we suffered, as our injury toll was high leading into the game and never had the fresh legs off the bench to get us home. I
t is what it is and we will be back this Saturday at Rahotu to play Stratford Eltham so things aren't going to get any easier... its a fairly even comp, although a few scores blew out the weekend which was surprising .
We wish Cullum a speedy recovery. It wasn't nice to watch and he hopefully be back in a month.
Player of the day was Chris Gawler, "Congrats for 50 games". He sets a great standard and is very respected by his team mates. He is always positive and so good with the young guys and I'm sure lifts the crowd attendance with his big muscles and his pretty boy face.
Kusi scored 2 mvp points and Mr Reliable Beni Kalin the 1 of a number of guys who could of scored points .
Luka Cassidy our big lock had some storming runs and with his locking partner Schuler kept the Tukapa 'D' on their toes.
Be nice to see a good turnout against Stratford Eltham this Saturday at Rahotu.
Ride the Wave !!
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