Match Report: |
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June 12, 2005 The Hamilton Hornets lost another heartbreaker to Waterloo County, 33 - 24. Hamilton put in a strong first half performance up front with the Hamilton pack dominating their opposite numbers to set up a good attacking platform for the Hornets backs. The Hamilton forwards secured their own ball while wheeling and driving the Waterloo scrum repeatedly and winning many of Waterloo's line-outs. Unfortunately, the Hornets let their opponents back in the game in the second half and were beaten by a Waterloo try in the dying minutes of the match. Following some intense early pressure, the Hornets were rewarded after a penalty was awarded in the 9th minute of the game just inside the Waterloo 22. Hamilton's #7 took a quick tap and go penalty and dived over the line in front of a surprised Waterloo side. The try was awarded, Hamilton out to an early 5 - 0 lead. Hamilton kept up the pressure on Waterloo for the next five minutes and were again rewarded for their efforts. This time the inspiration came from the backs with Hamilton Stand Off, Paul Roberto, nicely timing a reverse pass to his Inside Centre, Matt Barrett, who cut back inside his Outside Half, broke the first tackle and touched down just left of the Waterloo posts. Paul Roberto then converted to take the score to 12 - 0. Waterloo then came back at the Hornets with a crash-ball, tap and go from a penalty on 24 minutes. Hamilton 12 - Waterloo 5. Hamilton continued to enjoy the run of play and ten minutes later 8-man, Kevin Bundy, was judged by the referee to have been held up in goal which resulted in a 5m scrum to Hamilton. The Hornets maintained the pressure on their opponents keeping Waterloo pinned in their own 22. Then an overthrown line-out ball from the Waterloo hooker found Kevin Bundy on 36 minutes who charged over from the back of the line-out for the third Hornets try to stretch the Hamilton lead to 17 - 5 just before half-time. Rugby is a game of two halves and for all the skill the Hornets showed in the first half, the second could not have gotten off to a worse start. A penalty decision against the Hornets in the 5th minute resulted in an early Waterloo try which brought the home side to within 5 points (17 - 12). More of the same followed in the next 15 minutes with Waterloo crossing the try line two more times to take the lead for the first time. Half way through the second half the score stood at Hamilton 17 - Waterloo 26. Hamilton then started to get back in to the game and show the kind of rugby that won them the first half. More players committed themselves to rucks and mauls ensuring multi-phase possession. On 26 minutes of the second half the referee awarded a penalty to Hamilton inside the opponents 22 for an offside. Scrum-half, Peter Van Zyl, quickly tapped the ball and passed to lock, Geordie McDougall who ran for the corner. He was supported by Matt Barrett who he offloaded to before he could be tackled. The Inside Centre went over for the try and Paul Roberto kicked a difficult conversion to get the Hornets to within two. Hamilton 24 - Waterloo 26 with about 12 minutes to play. The Hornets continued to keep up the pressure on Waterloo for the next ten minutes and looked certain to score. Waterloo, however, managed to turn over Hamilton ball inside their own 22 with 3 minutes to play. They quickly moved the ball out wide and their winger proved to be too quick when shown some open field. The score stood at Hamilton 24 - Waterloo 33, and with two minutes to play there was not enough time to come back. 8-man, Kevin Bundy was named man of the match. Match report by: The Hamilton Hornets always welcome new Junior and Senior members. Call the club house at 905.575.3133
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