The first game of the scheduled double-header featured newcomers Emperors up against the experienced Scorpions, and speedster Sean Ward (national 7’s team) wasted no time in posting points for the Scorps, with a lightning fast early first half try. Luckily for Emperors the conversion kick was unsuccessful and they responded with some aggressive play, resulting in penalty kick which saw national U19 player Nick Daniel put his team on the board for a score of Scorpions 5-3 Emperors.
The agile and wily Nico Blunt of Scorpions scored a hard-fought try but once again Stephen Atwell failed to convert, bringing the score to 10-3. Good defensive play by the Emperors pitted brother against brother, as siblings Dario Stoute (national 7’s and 15’s) and David Burke (national U19’s) went head to head in a series of bruising phases. An inspired move by Emperor’s Daniel (Danny Ram) Ramsay, energised his team-mates, as by-standers christened this tactic the “Ram Shuffle.” Keyon “Dilly” Questelles bulldozed his way over the try line to bring the score to Scorpions 10-8 Emperors. Nick Daniel failed to kick the conversion that would have tied the game at this point, and a lightning fast try by Scorpion Dario Stoute lead to a half-time score of 15-8.
The second half did not begin well for Emperors, as their opponents quickly leapt to a 30-8 lead, thanks to tries from big Kevyn Murrell, Stephen Atwell and Sean Ward. Another Atwell kick failed to convert, and the energetic play was marred by dropped balls and errors on both sides. A smoothly run phase of Scorpions play saw Ian Chetland passing to Sean Ward, who passed to Nico Blunt who took the ball to ground over the try line. Finally, an Atwell kick was good, bringing the score to 37-8.
Fired up, the Scorpions defence held firm against a determined assault with many phases and mauls and a final monumental scrum that resulted in an Emperors turnover to Ian Chetland who took the score to 42-8 for his team.
Showing dogged determination and passion, the Emperors refused to give up, even as the clock ran down. Tempers flared on field, resulting in some verbal exchanges and gestures, but nothing significant. U19 standout Jamar “Judy” Harewood made a remarkable run to score another try for Emperors, but Nick Daniel’s conversion kick, while on target, fell short. Harewood struck again a few minutes later, and this time Daniel’s kick was wide, so the final score was 46-18 to the triumphant Scorpions.
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