Wet and wild win for Maccabi
Maccabi parked themselves in Balmain’s half in the first half and got on the scoreboard early through two penalty goals from Chad Bobrow’s boot.
Maccabi Rugby Club can enjoy their upcoming two-week break – a long weekend bye followed by an ordinary bye – just that extra bit more, following their comprehensive 18-0 Jeffrey Cup round 7 away win over Balmain in Leichhardt last Saturday.
In probably their third match this season played in torrential rain, the Maccabi men tackled hard from the outset, created a wall of defence, and gained plenty of metres up the middle from charges by their forwards and good field position from a smart kicking game by their halves.
In conditions where, at times, the field’s surface was difficult to differentiate from the water in the public pool next door, Maccabi parked themselves in Balmain’s half in the first half and got on the scoreboard early through two penalty goals from Chad Bobrow’s boot.
Before the half-time break, Greg Diamond scored a converted try from close range to extend the lead to 13-0.
The Blues’ domination in the scrums and line-outs in the wet proved decisive in the second half, while their defence remained unbreakable, leaving no chance for a Balmain comeback.
A break out wide by Harrison Stein – who slid across the line, beat a defender and got the ball down – made it an 18-0 result.
Maccabi outside centre Adam Amoils said positives from the game included dominance in field position and defence, but added, “We didn’t give the ball to our wingers enough.”
He said another win in the wet was “a great outcome for the boys”.
“It felt like I went for a cold bath in most of the tackles I made – it was that wet on the ground – but it was great fun to play in those conditions, despite it being a challenge.”
The coach’s points for best players of the match went to Chad Bobrow (three points), Ethan Agosin (two points) and Adam Amoils (one point).
Maccabi are now fifth on the 11-team ladder, at the halfway mark of the season, with four wins, three losses and four bonus points.
Their next match won’t be until June 22, when they take on St Ives from 3.15pm at Hassall Park.
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