Steamers v Leeton Phantoms 7 April @ MurrayField.
Leeton Phantoms overcome spluttering start to blow Steamers off Murrarfield
The Steamers opened their home season with a forgettable 78 to 15 thrashing at the hands of a hot Leeton Phantoms. The visitors took some time to get into gear but once they got going they were merciless scoring 52 to 5 in the second half .
The early exchanges looked promising for the locals. They put pressure on the Premiers and forced errors as the visitors struggled to get their expansive game going. Both sides made errors but the Phantoms were more effective at punishing the Steamers mistakes and so when the Steamers scrum coughed up a tight head in the 15th minute the visitors were over for their first try of the afternoon.
Steamers 0 – Phantoms 5.
From the kick off the Steamers were able to apply some pressure and eventually they received a penalty and Sam Allen knocked it over .
Steamer 3 – Phantoms 5.
By half way through the first stanza the pattern of the game was emerging. The Steamers would mount some pressure and look likely to score but a mistake would put an end to some promising phases and the Phantoms would strike back with merciless efficiency.
So in the 22 minute the Steamers were penalized for a high tackle and and less than a minute later the visitors were in for another try.
Steamers 3 – Phantoms 12.
At the 28 minute mark the Phantoms giant 13 caught a scampering Sam Allen by the collar and threw him into touch earning himself a yellow card and 10 minute rest. The penalty allowed the Steamers to get on the attack they and went close to scoring but again on attack the Steamers were penalized. Leeton kicked to the sideline and scored from the lineout.
Steamers 3 – Phantoms 19.
As the first half drew to a close the Steamers were again pressuring the Phantoms line and a promising attack was snuffed out when the Steamers player was tackled over the sideline within metres of the tryline. The Phantoms messed up the lineout and the Steamers recruit J Kerr pounched for a meat pie in his first outing at Murrayfield. Sam Allen knocked over the conversion and the Steamers were back in the contest.
Steamers 10 – Phantoms 19.
With only a couple of minutes left in the first half and the Phantoms looking fragile the Steamers had an opportunity to put some more pressure on the Visitors as another try at this time would have seen the teams neck and neck at the break. Unfortunately the Steamers stuffed up the restart and the Phantoms were the ones to score the quick try.
Steamers 10 – Phantoms 26 at the main break.
Coach Musara thought that they could win from there and said so at the break. This was not too far fetched a notion as the Phantoms looked shaky when they were put under pressure.
However it didn’t happen. The Phantoms found 2nd gear and the Steamers defense fell apart. The Phantoms ran riot scoring in the 42nd, 44th, 46th, 51st, 52nd, 55th, 66th and 72nd minutes
With 5 minutes left in the game the score was Steamers 10 – Phantoms 78. A late try to the Steamers returning Dave Cooper-Dunn made the final score Steamers 15 – Phantoms 78.
There is not much to say except it can only get better from here and it should with some players such as James Devlin and Blake Lecornu returning in the near future. In addition some of the new players will start work more effectively with each other as time goes on. There is plenty of talent in the Steamers list and if they play smart and work hard there is no reason why they cannot challenge for the title in 2018.
Some observations;
The set pieces need to deliver predictable results. Scrums and lineouts have to provide a solid platform to attack. The Steamers scrum was often under pressure and a tighthead gave the Phantoms their first try. The lineout needs to have more variation. Otherwise the good sides work out your lineout and it is under pressure all day.
The defensive stategy of up & in didn’t work on the day. It is always unlikely to work against s a team that has the ability to get outside your wide defenders or the ability to punch through the middle.
Although many of the defensive lapses involved a faster player beating his opponent there were also numerous examples of grappling and arm grabbing defensive efforts that led to Phantom players making clean breaks in the mid field which is always difficult to clean up afterwards. Effective defense is a function technique and desire. Both are needed. Training great technique will not help if you do not have the resolve to put the shoulder in and do the job. There were some examples of good technique and real resolve by the Steamers on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately they were overshadowed by half hearted grabbing efforts that were ineffective against the power of the Phantom players.
Lastly there were opportunities that went begging. When a turnover happens the Phantoms had no players back yet the Steamers plugged away with several “settlers” allowing the visitors to get their defenses set up again. Similarly when a penalty was awarded and a quick decision made to tap and go the Phantoms looked disorganized. Too often however the decision took too long and opportunities evaporated.
Still there is much like about this team and the personnel have the ability to match any side in the competition. Whether they do or not will be up to them.
Next week the Steamers face another stern test when they meet last year’s grandfinalist, Wagga Waratahs at Connelly Park in Wagga. They badly need a win so lets get up there to cheer them on against the “old enemy”.
Steamers 0 – Phantoms 5.
From the kick off the Steamers were able to apply some pressure and eventually they received a penalty and Sam Allen knocked it over .
Steamer 3 – Phantoms 5.
By half way through the first stanza the pattern of the game was emerging. The Steamers would mount some pressure and look likely to score but a mistake would put an end to some promising phases and the Phantoms would strike back with merciless efficiency.
So in the 22 minute the Steamers were penalized for a high tackle and and less than a minute later the visitors were in for another try.
Steamers 3 – Phantoms 12.
At the 28 minute mark the Phantoms giant 13 caught a scampering Sam Allen by the collar and threw him into touch earning himself a yellow card and 10 minute rest. The penalty allowed the Steamers to get on the attack they and went close to scoring but again on attack the Steamers were penalized. Leeton kicked to the sideline and scored from the lineout.
Steamers 3 – Phantoms 19.
As the first half drew to a close the Steamers were again pressuring the Phantoms line and a promising attack was snuffed out when the Steamers player was tackled over the sideline within metres of the tryline. The Phantoms messed up the lineout and the Steamers recruit J Kerr pounched for a meat pie in his first outing at Murrayfield. Sam Allen knocked over the conversion and the Steamers were back in the contest.
Steamers 10 – Phantoms 19.
With only a couple of minutes left in the first half and the Phantoms looking fragile the Steamers had an opportunity to put some more pressure on the Visitors as another try at this time would have seen the teams neck and neck at the break. Unfortunately the Steamers stuffed up the restart and the Phantoms were the ones to score the quick try.
Steamers 10 – Phantoms 26 at the main break.
Coach Musara thought that they could win from there and said so at the break. This was not too far fetched a notion as the Phantoms looked shaky when they were put under pressure.
However it didn’t happen. The Phantoms found 2nd gear and the Steamers defense fell apart. The Phantoms ran riot scoring in the 42nd, 44th, 46th, 51st, 52nd, 55th, 66th and 72nd minutes
With 5 minutes left in the game the score was Steamers 10 – Phantoms 78. A late try to the Steamers returning Dave Cooper-Dunn made the final score Steamers 15 – Phantoms 78.
There is not much to say except it can only get better from here and it should with some players such as James Devlin and Blake Lecornu returning in the near future. In addition some of the new players will start work more effectively with each other as time goes on. There is plenty of talent in the Steamers list and if they play smart and work hard there is no reason why they cannot challenge for the title in 2018.
Some observations;
The set pieces need to deliver predictable results. Scrums and lineouts have to provide a solid platform to attack. The Steamers scrum was often under pressure and a tighthead gave the Phantoms their first try. The lineout needs to have more variation. Otherwise the good sides work out your lineout and it is under pressure all day.
The defensive stategy of up & in didn’t work on the day. It is always unlikely to work against s a team that has the ability to get outside your wide defenders or the ability to punch through the middle.
Although many of the defensive lapses involved a faster player beating his opponent there were also numerous examples of grappling and arm grabbing defensive efforts that led to Phantom players making clean breaks in the mid field which is always difficult to clean up afterwards. Effective defense is a function technique and desire. Both are needed. Training great technique will not help if you do not have the resolve to put the shoulder in and do the job. There were some examples of good technique and real resolve by the Steamers on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately they were overshadowed by half hearted grabbing efforts that were ineffective against the power of the Phantom players.
Lastly there were opportunities that went begging. When a turnover happens the Phantoms had no players back yet the Steamers plugged away with several “settlers” allowing the visitors to get their defenses set up again. Similarly when a penalty was awarded and a quick decision made to tap and go the Phantoms looked disorganized. Too often however the decision took too long and opportunities evaporated.
Still there is much like about this team and the personnel have the ability to match any side in the competition. Whether they do or not will be up to them.
Next week the Steamers face another stern test when they meet last year’s grandfinalist, Wagga Waratahs at Connelly Park in Wagga. They badly need a win so lets get up there to cheer them on against the “old enemy”.