Reds vs Blues
Sat March 13 at 7pm
Ballymore
Ref Jonathan Kaplan
Full time Reds 20 Blues 3
Half time Reds 5 Blues 3
This is not a review I enjoy doing, but as I have alluded to on the message board, there will be more to follow. The Blues have a 100% loss record at Ballymore, so why change it!
A revamped Blues team took the park, new combinations, new Skipper in Justin Collins. The Reds were still hurting from last weeks loss to the Crusaders, and Timmy Horan had given them a pep talk to gee them up.
Tasesa Lavea started well, in place of King Carlos and for 25min the pack was dominating, unlike last weeks blip against the Chiefs. Atiga added a penalty and the Reds had Heenan binned for 10min. Things were looking up.
With 15 playing 14, the Reds scored a try through Latham. This is not what's supposed to happen. Flatley did not have his kicking boots on and left at halftime to find them.
With only 2 pts in it, the game was there for the taking and even when " hullo Sailor" made it 10-3, the Blues were still in it.
I've never been a fan of Brent Thompson, a former Cane and still making dumb decisions. Doug Howlett, who had an impressive game, the only one I think in the backline, made a sintulating break and off loaded to Thompson who came down short and tried to stretch out the " one Hander " and lost it forward.
This is why he was at the Canes, he was not even close to getting the ball there. Just set it up and I'm sure the next guy would score......chance lost. Atiga makes a brilliant break, with only Latham to beat, he passes inside to Muliaina, who grasses it.....another chance gone. It could have been all square and who knows what would happen.
And the mistakes kept coming, Muliaina was having a shocker, to go with his Chiefs booboo. Caucau was subbed off !!! hullo.... our only back that could score from nothing. Soon Latham put the game beyond doubt....goodnite nurse.
The Blues backline has plenty of flair, but no brains, can we borrow Mehrts. The ball is supposed to be passed in front of the man running onto it.
