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Brandon Barbarians Rugby Football Club

Senior Men Division One

June 6, 2009

Game Played on Field Two, Maple Grove Rugby Park, Winnipeg

Winnipeg Wanders 25  Brandon Barbarians 12

On a cold and miserable Saturday afternoon, the Winnipeg Wanderers overcame the elements and downed the Brandon Barbarians 25-12. Scoring for the Barbs were Paul Grosskopf and Andrew Halliday with a try each and Wayne Davis with one conversion.  Check out the Assistant Coach’s review below the photos. Also, take note of the AC’s new, up-to-date photo...

Brent Littlejohn’s Jottings

From

The Sidelines of Field One

FIRST-HALF

The Wanderers lead by a score of 13-0 at Half-time..... Their points came on a 'Drop-Goal' + 2 Trys (unconverted).

Playing "with the wind", the Wanderers maintained a significant advantage in both 'Territory' & 'Possession', over the first 40 minutes.... We rarely had the chance to venture into their half.

 SECOND-HALF

The Wanderers scored a converted Try, only 5 minutes into the Second-Half, to lead 20-0.

All of our scoring came in the Second-Half.

* Paul Grosskopf - scored a Try (Unconverted) 10 minutes into the Second-Half.

* Andrew Halliday - scored a Try (Converted by Wayne Davis), with 5 minutes remaining in the match.

 COMMENTS

After our somewhat hesitant start last week, the guys really wanted to start today's match on the offensive - and work to gain early control of the match.... But instead, it was quite the opposite.    

We knew that the wind would likely be a factor in today's match - and the Wanderers certainly used it to their advantage over the opening 40 minutes - along with their very determined play.... However, in spite of playing the first 40 minutes against a strong wind - and defending our line, for almost all of that time - our spirits were still high at Half-time.

Considering the amount of time that we spent in our own half, we weren't too concerned about trailing 13-0 at the interval. And the guys were certainly eager to begin the final 40 minutes. During the First-half, we did manage to produce some very positive attacks, and challenges to the Wanderers defence - although, we could not produce enough sustained pressure on them, at key moments.

However, as the Second-half opened, it quickly became obvious that the first 40 minutes had depleted much of our collective mental and physical energy.... That was certainly how it appeared.... After being pressured to Defend during most of the First-half, making the 'mental-shift' to a more Offensive frame of mind - proved to be a challenge for our guys, on this afternoon.

For us to gain any control of the match, and to unsettle the Wanderers - we really needed the first score of the Second-half - and we didn't get it.... Instead, we quickly found ourselves trailing by 20-0.... And the Wanderers were continuing to work hard, to maintain control of the match. Their play remained very consistent over the full 80 minutes.

However, on a positive note, our guys finished the match in very strong and determined fashion..... In fact, the final 20 minutes of the match, was our best period of the entire match.... However, heading into the final quarter - the scoreline was 25-5, and the Wanderers defence remained focused.

Our guys kept pressing on offence, and we did manage a Try with 5 minutes remaining to bring the score to 25-12.... However, at this level, you can't give a good team, a 20 point lead - and still expect to win.... At least, not the way we were playing today.

In any event, we can't dwell too much on the loss. And we now have to focus on our next match, versus the Sturgeon Creek Rowdies.

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