FIFOs MARCH TO PLAYOFFS
With only a single win in 8 games, and having watched the False Bay Fifths beat a
Coaches and players alike decided that the sense of entitlement permeating their cloakroom needed to be addressed. Clear and achievable goals were required with a common commitment to achieving them.
The first hurdle was beating an ever-improving False Bay Fifth Team, in a derby billed as Civil War, brother against brother. With the pre-match banter adding a bit of spice, it was game on with both sides giving their all in an entertaining match. FIFOs probably won this game on the defense, but the momentum and self-belief, together with the taste of success set the team up for a run of five victories out of five. Having to play with 14 men for 30 minutes of the contest galvanized the team and wave after wave of Sharks (FB Fifths) attack was repulsed by a steely defence. The final score remained unchanged from halftime and the Fifos won 15 – 3.
After having postponed their game, Villagers were next up and with a FIFOs team brimming with confidence and a taste of success, they probably wished they had not requested the postponement. The side was determined and there was now a respect and confidence as a team, launched by the match against their competing club mates, the Sharks.
Often a victory means more in terms of what has been gained than the league points and we certainly gained so much more than these from our very tough encounter against the False Bay Fifths (Sharks), which we took into the match against Villager.
Almost every player to a man had never tasted victory against the fondly named “Dirty Whites” and a steely determination possessed every player who took to the field in green, red and white that day. The FIFOs scored in the first 10 minutes through a penalty by Jonathan Thomas. Both sides threw everything they had at each other, our defense outstanding, epitomised by a Bay lock chasing down and ankle tapping a Villagers center.
Man on man the
With 10 minutes left on the clock the score was still 3 – 0, Villager threatening the FIFO line and that slender lead. Eventually after successfully defending a series of White attacks, the Bay simply ran out of men and Villager crossed in the corner.
Seven minutes to go, a slender lead forfeited and for the first time this season there was no panic amongst the FIFO players, simply a sense that there was still time to recover and a resolve to fight back.
After sustained pressure by the Bay, it was Villager who wilted and forfeited a penalty. We bravely opted for a lineout, which fed the ball to the backline and Mike Delbridge beating two defenders to cross in the corner. What a game and a deserved 8-5 win.
We had won 2 out of 2 with 2 to go with a possible third to come if we made the playoffs. The confidence and self-belief which has grown in all the teams at
A lengthy mid-season break made it difficult to motivate the boys to the same level as that of the Villager contest, but nevertheless the team knew that this was a game that they simply had to win to give themselves any chance of making the playoffs. Our forwards dominated at scrum time but other than that we did not gel well. We did not really play well on the whole, but what was that about a team still winning when not playing well being a quality team?
Another 2 week rest and Brackenfell visit the Bay. After a jersey presentation and a few motivational words from Kevin Musikanth the side was ready to take a top of the log Brackenfell. After kicking, the Fifos won back the ball, hit 2 quick rucks, a magic grubber down the left hand touch line, the Brackenfell full back could not control and Mike Delbridge pounced to score the try. Jonathan Thomas converted and Brackenfell were 7 – 0 down with about 2 minutes gone on the clock.
After that the hard work started. The FIFO forwards threw everything they had at Brackenfell in the loose rucks and mauls. The backs built on their big defensive effort of the previous 3 games. Brackenfell had a period of play close to the end of the first half in which they retained possession and attacked with purpose, which eventually led to a try to even things up on the scoreboard.
Half time 7 – 7.
The second half was much the same as the first with the Bay not holding back. After a scrappy piece of play in which neither side could hold on to the ball William Solomon snapped up a loose ball, saw the gap and scored a great solo try. Conversion by Ashley Hobbs. Fifos held out for the last minute of play and the 14-7 victory. What a win.
Alistair Burls was Man of the Match for his in your face approach, which really threw Brackenfell right off their game.
NNK finally confirmed they could play & there was one match left to achieve the goal of 5 from 5 and giving ourselves the chance of making the quarter finals.
After Brackenfell there were lots of bumps and bruises, which resulted in the FIFOs having to go into this game with a makeshift front row. Hooker Dave Matfeild moved to tighthead prop with flanker Gavin Ross moving into hooker. No front rankers on the bench and a Wednesday night game at NNK.
The hosts came hard at us for the first 15 minutes and 3 scrums in which time they built up a 10 – 0 lead. After that it was all
Tries by David Brunette (2), Heath Wrigley, Brett Croedeman, Daniel Couldridge, William Solomon with conversions by Ashley Hobbs & Jonathan Thomas 2 each.
Man of the Match Marc Douglass
Perhaps the achievement of five out of five, especially in the light of their inauspicious start to the season is not fully appreciated by the FIFOs, but it is something which will stay with them for a long time, no matter the outcome of the quarter final.
So where did the change come about?
AT the start of the season the FIFOs had a squad of 30 plus, yet were unable to win a thing. If one goes back and looks at the stats for the last 5 games, 3 of them were won with a squad of 21 players. Consistency played a huge role as starting all 5 games were the same tight 5, loose trio, center duo, scrumhalf and flyhalf remained.
Through commitment to practice, to each other and to playing the game for the love of it, the side started to realize the potential it always had.
The commitment by each player to the team has become evident in our biggest weapon, our defence.
In our first 8 games we leaked 38 tries.
In our last 5 games – 5 tries were scored against us.
There is no longer a sense of entitlement in the team. To play in the side you need to come to practice. If you are on the bench that means you have a role to fulfill during the game.
Characters
Karl Graham who only started playing last year must get a special mention for coming on in leaps and bounds culminating in his awesome game against Villagers.
Calvin Rich our level headed totally committed captain who leads by example and whose composure has rubbed off on the side.
Heath Wrigley, Adam van Willingh,
Jonathan Thomas (JT) who works each practice on building the teams calves in the hope one day ours will look like his
Mike Delbridge with his grade 24 hamstring ginger vitas but whose commitment has shown in his huge improvement on defense
The list goes on…..
What else can I say except bring on the Wolf Pack!
