Starting Team:
James Atwill, Geoff Wells, Karl Truijens, Josh Spreag, Al Hall, James Ball, Bennett Carroll, Terito Marekura, Dom Longhurst, Henry Fisher, David Bond, Charlie Versi, Blake Murray, Ben Borg, Liam Windon.

Norths ran into the wind in the first half of this important game.

Norths started slowly and Uni were soon on attack deep inside the Norths half. The Norths defence held this early onslaught and it took a penalty and subsequent goal to put Uni on the scoreboard 3-0.

This score seemed to wake up the Norths team and they pressed Uni from the kick-off. Norths were being penalised at the breakdown with Uni aggressiveness being rewarded by the referee but to the Norths supporters the team was well in the game and the Norths backs were worrying Uni with their speed.

Charlie Versi demonstrated this advantage with a bustling run from centre field. He was able to get the ball to Ben Borg playing on the left wing. With some room to move close to the line, Ben spun out of two tackles to force his way over in the corner. Henry Fisher then stepped up to kick a great conversion from the sideline in a difficult cross wind. Norths had hit the lead 7-3.

While Norths were in front on the score board they were still been hit hard with penalties at the breakdown. It was allowing Uni back into the game. Uni received a penalty in front of the posts just on halftime and the teams went to the break with Norths holding a slender lead, 7 points to 6.

Looking at the first half, the Norths scrum was shading Uni - something that happened in all grades on Saturday. The forwards were playing well and the backs were dangerous. With their team running with the wind in the second half, the Norths supporters had reason to be very positive about this game.

Norths used the wind well early in the half with a long kick into the Uni quarter. Some slow play by the Uni winger and a great chase by centre Blake Murray (Welcome back Blake!) put Norths right on attack.

Norths received a penalty in front but took a quick tap. Uni had not retreated and one of their forwards tackled number 8, Terito Marekura. The ref appeared to signal a further penalty and played advantage. The ball spilled loose on the next play and Uni gained possession and this observer expected the original penalty to ensue. It didn’t and Uni went the length of the field to score a try – an 8 point turn-around which could have spelled disaster.

The score was now 11-7 to Uni. To Norths credit, they did what a good team should do and that’s respond on the scoreboard. From the kick-off they gained possession deep in the Uni quarter, a strong maul dragged the Uni defence in and when the ball was swung wide replacement centre Anthony Shortis had the speed to go over out wide. Again Henry Fisher had the aim right and with the great conversion, Norths were up 14-11.

Uni tried hard over the concluding stages and there was tension and controversy (e.g. disallowed Norths penalty goal) to burn. A final lineout to Norths with a captain’s effort to haul the ball in by Josh Spreag kept Uni at bay. As the final siren went Uni had the ball and were desperate to score out wide – an intercept by Ben Borg killed off the attack and the game ended with Norths deserved winners.

It was a great team effort and it would be unfair to single out individual players. The allocated best and fairest points suggest the coaches had a similar feeling about the game with six players getting a point each.

Norths are now second on the ladder and have a chance next week to reverse the loss to Easts from the first round.

Scorers: Ben Borg, Anthony Shortis tries; Henry Fisher 2 conversions

Best and Fairest:
Karl Truijens, Josh Spreag, Al Hall, Bennett Carroll, Charlie Versi, Anthony Shortis - one point each.