Sydney Spirit vs Perth Stars

[maelkann]

Score update, away from computer and cannot load the link on my phone???

Just finished. 42/45 to 24 (we lost.)

[Sheikh]

half time .Spirit leading 16-13

Full time - not good

[brokendown gunfighter]

game over.missed the final score but we got overrun in the second half-lost by about 20 points

[James]

I missed the first half but liked what I saw of Onehunga Havili in the second half. I didn't realise he was only 19.

[travelling_gerry]

Watched it on stream. Some good patches of play. Some handling errors at crucial times, some dodgy ref decisions and w yellow cards and Tom Carter is still a powder puff blue count.

[James]

Yeah- I thought Albert Nikoro's yellow was very unfair. Should have been a penalty to us for not releasing.

I have to say that in the few games I have seen Nikoro play, I am very unimpressed.

I'm really unimpressed by our attack too. How many tries have we scored this season that weren't from pick and goes or mauls?

[Cowboy]

The all hooker all the time coaching team seems to be killing the idea of using the backs as a scoring threat too.

I might be oversimplifying but there is an element of truth to it.

[Darren]

The Perth Spirit have gone down to the Sydney Stars 45 – 24 in Round 3 of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship at Leichhardt Oval this afternoon.

The Spirit showed glimpses of brilliance throughout the match, with some of the best tries of the competition so far. The Perth based team scored two tries to the Stars one in the first half and lead the Sydney Stars into the sheds with a 16 – 13 lead.

The second half started with early tries to both sides with both teams looking dangerous, but the Stars were two strong, scoring another three tries to the Spirits none, taking home the points with a 45 – 24 win.

Spirit Head Coach Tai McIsaac, was once again disappointed with his side’s skill errors, but thought his team put in a solid performance.

“I was really happy with the brand of rugby we played in the first half, we were assertive, but still could have probably come away with a bigger lead,” he said.

“The Stars are a strong outfit and play a really good brand of footy, and we gave them too much time and space and that really hurt us in the second half.”

“We definitely didn’t make the most of our opportunities and spoiled a few more chances, but the good thing is we’re making those chances, we just need to finish them off from now on.”

The Spirit dominated early with strong line speed and some great offload play, which lead to Onehuna Havili steaming down the right wing, flicking back inside to Kyle Godwin who was brought to ground, he then popped back up to Al Rovira who dived over for the first points of the game. Ian Prior slotted the conversion from the sideline to give the Spirit an 8 – 0 lead.

The Stars hit back with a strong set of phases and John Hale pushed over from close range to give the Stars their first five pointer.

The Spirit then rallied to score another cracking try, this time down the left wing with an early linebreak from Richard Hardwick, the ball worked beautifully back to the outside where fullback Albert Nikoro finished it off. Ian Prior once again struck it beautifully to give the Spirit a 16 – 5 lead.

Anaru Rangi was sent to the sin bin for repeat infringements and the Stars made the most of their opportunities scoring off the back of a strong rolling maul, sending their captain David Hickey over for his first try. Angus Roberts made the conversion to bring the score back to 13 – 16 at half time.

The home side shot out of the blocks early in the second half and scored in the 42nd minute with veteran Tom Carter slicing through the Spirit defence to give hid side the lead for the first time in the game. Roberts converted the try and extended the Stars lead to 21 – 16.
The Spirit struck back with big prop Oliver Hoskins going on a barnstorming run, beating several defenders, he offloaded to young gun Nick Jooste who put on the afterburners and jetted his way over the line and regained the lead for his side. Ian Prior converted to take the score to 21- 24.

From then on it was all Stars. The Spirit were another man down again, with Albert Nikoro sent of for cynical play and the Stars hit back with Tom Kingston crashing over. Roberts had no problem with the conversion and the Stars regained the lead 29 – 24.

The Spirit fought hard, but the Stars had their measure and after a slick linebreak from Matt Phillip it wasn’t long before Jake Gordon made his way over the paint and extended the Stars lead. Roberts wasn’t missing from in front and put his side up 37 – 24.

The Stars weren’t finished there, with big man Matt Phillip barging his way over in red time and scoring his first try of the match. The conversion was made and the final whistle blown, Sydney Stars were too strong with a 45 – 24 win.

2015 Buildcorp National Rugby Championship – Week Three
Sydney Stars v Perth Spirit
Leichhardt Oval

Sydney Stars 45 (John Hale, David Hickey, Tom Carter, Tom Kingston, Jake Gordon and Matt Phillip tries; Angus Robertson 5 conversions) defeated Perth Spirit 24 (Al Rovira, Albert Nikoro and Nick Jooste tries: Ian Prior 3 conversions)

Sydney Stars: 1. JEREMY TILSE (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 2. TOM COOLICAN (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 3. TOM ROBERTSON (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 4. ANDREW LEOTA (SOUTHERN DISTRICTS) , 5. MATT PHILIP (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 6. ROHAN O’REGAN (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 7. DAVID HICKEY (C) (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 8. OFA FINAU (BALMAIN), 9. JAKE GORDON (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 10. ANGUS ROBERTS (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 11. HARRY JONES (WARRINGAH), 12. ANDREW ROBINSON (CANBERRA VIKINGS), 13. JIM STEWART (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 14. JOHN HALE (BALMAIN), 15. TOM KINGSTON (VC) (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 16. DECLAN MOORE (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 17. ALASDAIR KING (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 18. MATT SANDELL (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 19. TIPILOMA KAVEINGA (BALMAIN), 20. MITCHELL WHITELEY (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY)
21. RICHARD DRAPER (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY), 22. JORDAN MCGREGOR (SOUTHERN DISTRICTS), 23. TOM CARTER (SYDNEY UNIVERSITY)

Perth Spirit: 1. Chris Heiberg (Perth/Bayswater), 2. Anaru Rangi (Nedlands), 3. Oliver Hoskins (Cottesloe) 4. Riley Winter (Wests Scarborough), 5. Rory Walton (Wests Scarborough), 6. Alex Rovira (Associates), 7. Auega Seumanutafa (Kalamunda), 8. Richard Hardwick (UWA), 9. Ian Prior (Nedlands), Nick Jooste (Hale School) Daley Harper (Kalamunda), 12. Kyle Godwin (Associates), 13. Solomoni Rasolea (Cottesloe) 14. Onehunga Havili )Palmyra), 15. Albert Nikoro (Wests Scarborough) Res: 16. Joe Savage (Palmyra), 17. Jermaine Ainsley (Nedlands) 18. Toro Reedy (Joondalup), 19. Adrian Hall (Cottesloe), 20. Pierre Roberts (Wests Scarborough), 21. Ryan Louwrens (Cottesloe), 22. Byron Hutchinson (Wanneroo), 23. Maalonga Konelio (Joondalup).

[Tazzmania]

Not the result we wanted but a lot to like.

The backline looked a lot better, Jooste Onehunga, Harper and Rasolea added nicely to the backline from last two weeks, they should all be retained however Jooste goes into yr 12 exams and likely to miss next two weeks.

Front row looked the goods again, locks did just enough, however the breakdown killed us and Hardwick missed having Cotrell or Koteka to help him.

Progress is being made albeit slowly, however that is what comp is all about.

[SNOB]

I must admit I ve been thinking something similar!
About time we got a specialised attack coach.
Thought Joost and Hungwa were both great.

The all hooker all the time coaching team seems to be killing the idea of using the backs as a scoring threat too.

I might be oversimplifying but there is an element of truth to it.

[Whatsdoin]

I must admit I ve been thinking something similar!
About time we got a specialised attack coach.
Thought Joost and Hungwa were both great.

Yep I agree.
Thats what you get when have a development officer running the spirit attack!
Last on the table and no wins! Same as the force - LAST!
Something is not right and it should be the board who should correct this now or next season is going to be same.
Word is Tai Mcissac is leaving and Elwee Prinsloo will be taking lineouts for the force! HaHahahaha! Pay peanuts you get monkeys!

[Cowboy]

Wish the whole setup would start taking trying to win seriously. How about deciding who our best team is and sticking with it?
Somehow I get the feeling that the whole organisation has disappeared into the land of being too smart for their own good "you see you don't understand, winning the nrc isn't what's important blah blah blah"
Whole board needs a shake up.

[brokendown gunfighter]

righto cowboy,stack the team with super 15 players.
win the comp.
then what?

[GIGS20]

Maybe then the super 15 players will have developed a game plan and some mutual goals like the rebels did?

[brokendown gunfighter]

ok Gigs--lets bring back RG!