When Collegian jumped out to a 24-point lead after 20 minutes in their Group 4 Division One match, it looked like the South West Robins were in for a long afternoon at Jack Woolaston Oval.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While the Robins didn’t get the win, the match in no way panned out like the first quarter had, as the players picked themselves up off the deck time and time again.
Down 24-nil, the Robins had to be the next to score and they did just that with back-to-back tries which halved the lead going into half-time.
There was still plenty to be done and the task was made a touch harder following the opening stages of the second stanza.
A mistake in the opening set gifted the Warriors the ball who took full advantage as Anthony Reid crossed for his second try of the day from the resulting scrum.
Not to be outdone, Robins’ Matt Lillicrap – who was at his barnstorming best – crossed for his second four-pointer 10 minutes later to make it a 12-point ball game once again.
Another 10 minutes went past before Collegian looked to have scored again through Scott Berry only for it to be called back for an obstruction.
However, the Warriors made no mistakes with their next chance as a simple draw and pass saw Brad Flanders cross in the corner.
From the next kickoff, the Robins were reduced to 12 men.
Cory Hall was sent from the field for a dangerous tackle on Jack Anderson which Anderson recovered from.
Warriors coach Mick Schmiedel said there was no malice from Hall and thought the tackle looked a lot worse than it was.
“He’s fine, he’s a tough kid,” Warriors coach Mick Schmiedel said of Anderson.
“You don’t want to see anyone on their head and I know the young fella that did it, it’s not in his game to do that.
“He came and apologised to me, the player and the team afterwards.”
With the odds stacked against them, the Robins surged back into the game as the Warriors discipline fell away.
Two quick tries saw the Robins come within six points but time ran out as Collegian won 36-30.
Schmiedel would have liked to have seen his players go on with it from 24-0 up.
“We don’t get ourselves in those positions too often, if we’re in a tight game it’s usually a grind,” he said. “To get to 24-0 [was great], if we just stick to what we’re doing, it probably turns into a healthier result than what it did.”
Schmiedel lauded the efforts of young guns Anderson, Josh Austin and Boston Saub.