2007 ARC Round 1.4, Aces v Tornadoes, Preview

[Burgs]

Aces v Tornadoes, preview
August 09, 2007 - 8:01am
Story by: Sportal

Venue & time

Gold Coast Stadium, Carrara. Sunday, August 11. 4pm (AEST).

Head to head

Debut

Walking wounded

Wallabies selectors will be casting a keen eye across a number of players in this match. Wallabies fullback Chris Latham continues his remarkable recovery from a knee reconstruction while team-mate Rodney Blake had ankle surgery late in the Super 14 season and endured complications in his recovery that left him short of fitness and out of contention for the World Cup squad. However, injuries can happen at any second so he knows he must stay on track with his recovery to keep any hopes of going to France alive.

Tornadoes prop Greg Holmes is in the Wallabies squad after making a speedy recovery from a shoulder reconstruction and will be looking for another solid match to step-up his match fitness for the World Cup.

Form

Both sides have had limited preparations but the Aces start was stalled until a host of their players in the Gold Coast Breakers and Sunnybank contingent had played off in the Queensland Trinity Premier Rugby Grand Final. Established club and Super 14 combinations will be crucial for getting up to speed in this match.

Who's hot

Blake scored a hat trick of tries in Queensland club rugby a couple of weeks back and will be looking for more this weekend. The good form of flyhalf Ben Lucas has seen him win a starting spot ahead of talented Reds rookie Quade Cooper while No.8 Josh Afu played a starring role in Sunnybank’s 2007 premiership success and will be hoping to continue that form into the Mazda ARC.

The Tornadoes halves combination of Wallabies World Cup squad members Sam Cordingley and Berrick Barnes will be under the microscope so they will be determined to show selectors why they deserve to be going to France. Wallabies reserve hooker Sean Hardman will also be out to impress in a massive front-row battle with himself, Holmes, Shon Siemonek up against Blake, Ole Avei & Tama Tuirirangi.

Teams

MFS East Coast Aces

1. Tama Tuirirangi,
2. Ole Avei,
3. Rodney Blake,
4. Will Munsie,
5. Luke Caughley,
6. Ben Mowen,
7. AJ Gilbert,
8. Josh Afu,

9. Nic Berry,
10. Ben Lucas,
11. Henari Veratau,
12. Lloyd Johansson (capt),
13. Charlie Fetoai,
14. Andrew Walker,
15. Chris Latham.

6. Jade Ingham,
17. Lloyd Campbell-McBride,
18. James Kriukelis,
19. Bo Paraha,
20. Sam Batty,
21. Quade Cooper,
22. Marshall Milroy.

Wilson HTM Ballymore Tornadoes

1. Greg Holmes,
2. Sean Hardman,
3. Shon Siemonek,
4. Ed O’Donoghue,
5. James Horwill,
6. Jared Hanna,
7. Tom McVerry (capt),
8. Scott Higginbotham,

9. Sam Cordingley,
10. Berrick Barnes,
11. Anthony Sauer,
12. Peter Hynes,
13. Blair Connor,
14. Elia Tuqiri,
15. Clinton Schifcofske.

16. Josh Mann-Rea,
17. Ernest Skelton,
18. Daniel Linde,
19. Ray Stowers,
20. Will Genia,
21. David Collis,
22. Tim Sampson.

[lmaag]

Watched the game today. I thought Latham played well, his kicking game was quite good. I have not seen AJ Gilbert play before and he impressed.

[The InnFORCEr]

As was Blair Connor.

Eddie may have jumped ship too ealry if this is a sign of the future of Reds Rugby. Very impressed.

[Burgs]

Aces hold off Tornadoes

August 12, 2007 - 6:13pm
Story by: Sportal

A seesawing affair on the Gold Coast has capped a memorable opening round of the Mazda Australian Rugby Championship with the East Coast Aces desperately holding on to defeat the Ballymore Tornadoes 27-21.

The Aces were 27-0 ahead 10 minutes into the second-half thanks to tries from forward quartet Ole Avei, Ben Mowan, AJ Gilbert and Rodney Blake before the Tornadoes had the 2490-strong local crowd on the edge of their seats with brisk revival as the East Coast tired.

Aces in-form flyhalf Ben Lucas only kicked three-from-seven to compound a nervy finish to the absorbing season opener.

With a proliferation of Queensland Reds team-mates on each team, many expected the first-round clash to start with the feel of an intra-squad practice match.

But with four World Cup-bound Wallabies among the run-on sides as well as the likes of Blake, James Horwill, Lloyd Johansson and Clinton Schifcofske, the match got off to a frenetic beginning.

The Carrara crowd was denied the chance to see Berrick Barnes in action after the Reds and Australia flyhalf withdrew on the cusp of kick-off citing a minor groin strain.

However, the Queensland derby still provided Tornadoes trio Greg Holmes, Sean Hardman and Sam Cordingley as well as Aces fullback Chris Latham a final competitive match before leaving for France.

Bathed in glorious sunshine, the scores were deadlocked until the 17th minute when Avei crossed less than a minute after the Tornadoes turned down a certain three points when Latham was penalised for not releasing the ball.

Retreating teenager Blair Connor allowed the ball to roll away from his grasp and with Gilbert spreading the play wide, East Coast captain Johansson fed Avei who bundled over for his fourth try in two competitive outings.

Avei scored a notable hat-trick of tries for local side Sunnybank in their Queensland Premier Rugby grand final demolition of the Gold Coast Breakers a fortnight ago.

A crisp pass from the increasingly influential Lucas then set Charlie Fetoai loose with only Schifcofske's last-gasp tackle stopping another score before left winger Henari Veratau was also held up inches short of the line.

But the home side's constant pressure paid off when from Latham's quick tap, Andrew Walker raced away down the right and towering flanker Mowan dived over in the corner for a 13-0 half-time lead.

That advantage was quickly doubled after the restart when the Aces took full advantage of Holmes' yellow card for a swinging arm.

With the Wallaby front-rower in the sin bin just 34 seconds into the half, firstly Gilbert danced through a cavernous Tornadoes defence then loosehead prop Tama Tuirirangi fed his tighthead counterpart for the Aces' fourth.

But with floodlights now illuminating the Gold Coast ground, the recharged visitors discovered a hidden reserve of power to blast back into the match with three converted tries in eight minutes.

Energised by the return of Holmes and a Blake mistake, Ballymore backs Elia Tuqiri, 18-year-old Connor and Anthony Sauer all sauntered in with Schifcofske converting each one to drag the deficit back to six points.

But the Aces held on - even surviving the reduction to 14 players when substitute Quade Cooper was sent to the bin for a late hit on Tim Sampson - to record their maiden ARC victory.

East Coast Aces 27
Tries: Ole Avei, Ben Mowan, AJ Gilbert and Rodney Blake
Conversions: Ben Lucas 3

Ballymore Tornadoes 21
Tries: Elia Tuqiri, Blair Connor, Anthony Sauer
Conversions: Clinton Schifcofske 3

[Hoolly Doolly]

I have not seen AJ Gilbert play before and he impressed.

AJ Gilbert was very impressive. Id seen him in the 7's comp and was intrigued to see him play in a 15 man game.