Sydney Shield

ROUND 2

Storey Park   14th April 2013

Belrose   Eagles   56 Asquith 18

It was a very hot day at Storey Park with some Asquith players calling for a 20 minute water break and it was not surprising if the referees agreed. The game started with a furious pace with both sides defending with crushing forward tackling. It wasn’t long before Asquith opened the scoring with a strong try out wide.

Down 6 nil Belrose settled into an attacking rhythm and the tries came. Luke Alder finishing off a great backline movement to score wide out in the scoreboard corner. Belrose finally took the lead after Shannon Cameron found a gap and ran 15 meters to score under the posts. James Mortimer, who was having a blinder was next to score but the final try scored just before half time you would go a long way to see better. Mortimer, who was probing 40 meters from the line, put up a high kick as winger Lee Cameron followed up and catched the ball on the full to score inches from the dead ball line.

22 -6 half was the half time lead but Coach Mortimer wanted more. He pointed out that Belrose had been sloppy in some areas and the side needed to lift their game. Johnny Valentino made an enormous break and the   confidence of Belrose was still on track. The score didn't indicate the punishment Belrose had to deal with and there is little doubt that the forwards again today gave a platform for the backs to have a field day.  With 7 tries in the second half the team did what was required with the backs scoring all the tries in the second half. After scoring one in the first half, Mortimer scored the first 2 in the second half and the game was Belrose's to lose.   Asquith did score a few good tries but the team knew they had got their measurer.   Shem Grieve was not only making darting runs from dummy half, he scored 2 blockbusting tries as did Lee Cameron in this half.

When the team has their game flowing they are certainly a joy to watch. The final try of the day came from a slick backline movement just outside the Eagles 20 meter line. Winger Luke Alder was put in the open. Luke   used his pace to avoid a number of defenders and approaching the Asquith 20 m line, looked covered by 3 for 4 defenders step inside and saw an unmarked tryline and give Mortimer his 6th conversion of the day.

Points 1 Lee Cameron 2 Shem Grieve 3 James Mortimer

Tries   James Mortimer 3 Lee Cameron 3 Shem Grieve 2 Luke Alder 2 Shannon Cameron 1

Goals James Mortimer 6

Next week Belrose back home against Kingsgrove Colts on  Sunday 21st April 3.00.p.m.