`the Silent Movie' Is A Smash Hit At Chatswood
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday June 7, 2004
Gordon led their match against Eastwood for just 55 seconds at Chatswood Oval yesterday, but fortunately for the Highlanders faithful it was the last 55 of the game when a famous comeback ended in victory.
Bullocking No.8 Vili Napaa scored the winning try for a 29-26 scoreline, twisting his way over against a willing Eastwood defensive line that had earlier repelled two attacking scrums and two attacking lineouts in the final three minutes.
``We call Vili `The Silent Movie' because you'll never hear a word out of him, but he sure does do his talking on the field," an elated Gordon halfback Kemble Cowan said amid the post-match celebrations. ``He just can't be stopped sometimes and that last try was all his. He got us down that end of the field and then scored it . . . just brilliant."
Napaa's try meant a bonus-point win that seemed highly unlikely as the hosts trailed 26-8 with about 20 minutes left.
Eastwood had dominated the scoreline if not all the play in the first hour of the game, with massive inside-centre Christian Kerisiano the key to their attack as victory looked assured. He was the major difference between two sides offering only an average standard of play for the Sunday crowd, the 125-kilogram No.12 unstoppable for his team's opening try and instrumental in their second.
Eastwood made the most of their few chances early, whereas Gordon created opportunities but struggled to capitalise. Both defences were questionable in a loose game with little structure or cohesion. The joint try count should have been higher, too.
Eastwood coach Chris Hickey was hugely disappointed with his team's effort, citing the performance of openside Will Brame as the sole highlight in the match. ``That was just an abysmal game, both teams were as bad as each other," Hickey said. ``Our ball handling and execution were just abysmal."
With a bye for all teams this weekend, Hickey was less than impressed with his side ahead of the Tooheys New Cup kick-off on June 19, but Gordon coach Steve Lidbury found just what he was after.
``They showed great character to hang in there and that was just what we wanted heading into the Tooheys New Cup," Lidbury said. ``The good thing is that's character building for us, as we'd been losing a few by five or six points, but they hung in there with this one."
Due to the baffling and widely criticised structure of the club rugby competition this year, the slate is now wiped clean for the top teams as they go into the cup, with each lower-grade side inheriting the points of the team above and fifth-grade officially over. This means second grade now has the points first grade has earned, and third grade has those of second grade and so on down the grades.
Easts now lead the Shute Shield standings after their hard-fought 27-15 win over Penrith, with Randwick's 41-17 win over Warringah securing them second place.
In other weekend games, Parramatta had their third victory, defeating Southern Districts 41-19, Sydney University beat West Harbour 29-15 in a high-class clash and Manly continued Norths woes with their 29-13 win.
Rugby details Page 27
© 2004 Sydney Morning Herald
Share This