Far North Coast trio star in Country Colts’ rugby win

May 15, 2009

The NSW Country Colts won their first match in Melbourne last night with a comprehensive 46–5 victory over the VRU President’s XV, with Far North Coast players Josh Damen (Wollongbar Alstonville), Dominic Morris (Lismore) and David Makajev (Casino) figuring prominently.

In cold and windy conditions at the Endeavour Hills Rugby Ground, the Colts scored eight tries to one to demolish the opposition, with the forwards crossing for six of the tries.

Country applied the pressure from the kick-off and had the President’s XV immediately on the back foot with solid defence and aggressive play at the breakdown.

Three minutes into the match Country won a lineout against the throw ten metres from the VRU line, and the ensuing driving maul saw loose head prop Raihania Whaanga awarded an unconverted try to take the lead 5 – 0.

The next 10 minutes was all Country, with the forwards driving play putting the VRU’s defence under pressure to hold them at bay.

Props Raihania Whaanga and David Makejev were causing havoc every time they became involved, while the back-row of Dominic Morris, Aidan Kwast and Ben Ham where dominating at the break-down.

The second try was a repeat of the first, with a 10 metre line-out being claimed against the throw and lock Daniel Wallace being driven over the line for another unconverted try to take the lead out to 10–0.

The VRU tightened their defence and started to lift their play which started to hold Country, but they were having trouble breaching the defence in attack.

At the 30th minute the Country pack took a tight head 20 metres out from the VRU line, and after a series of pick and drives, flanker Ben Ham crashed over for an unconverted try to stretch the lead to 15–0.

The remainder of the first half saw Country on the attack, and it was only last-ditch defence by the VRU team which kept them out prior to the half-time break.

The second half once again saw Country dominating the field position, and after 10 minutes hooker Dylan Evans claimed the fourth unconverted try to take the lead out to 20–0.

Country continued to go on the attack, and within the next 10 minutes replacement hooker Cameron Kesby and Winger Josh Damen crossed for tries which saw the lead extended, and with the added conversion by Chayce Bambach the lead blew out to 32–0.

The VRU started to gain some possession and field position, and after mounting a series of attacking raids they were rewarded when they crossed for an unconverted try to make the score 32–5.

This score made Country lift which saw Josh Damen and flanker Ben Ham cross for their second tries, and with the conversions by Will Oldham and Jacob Miller the score blew out to the final score-line of 46–5.

The Players Player Award went to Cameron Kesby, who was well-supported by Dominic Morris, David Makejev, Aidan Kesby and Daniel Wallace.

The Country Colts will now play VRU Colts on Saturday as the curtain-raiser to the Country Cockatoos v Melbourne Axemen match at Ashwood Reserve.

NSW Country Colts 46 (Josh Damen 2, Ben Ham 2, Dylan Evans, Cameron Kesby, Daniel Wallace, Raihania Whaanga tries, Chayce Bambach, Jacob Miller, Will Oldham conversions) d VRU President’s XV 5.

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