Alex Pirie was one of the best for the Devils on Saturday in torrid conditions at Robert’s Park. Despite spending ten minutes in the bin for what looked like a high shot on an opposition player who was falling in the tackle, Pirie made plenty of determined runs and was a stand out for the young Devils side.
The Harden Red Devils recorded their 5th straight loss this season when they faced up against the men from Bateman’s Bay on Saturday at Robert’s Park. The last few weeks have been tough on the newly formed club with Harden playing some quality opposition. Last week the Devils went down to (top 3 side) Crookwell 48-0. In the previous weeks before that, they had a bye, lost to Bungendore 56-7 (top 3 side), Yass 20-5 (who are definitely beatable) and Taralga 38-5 (top 3 side).
The next phase of the season will see the Devils face opposition that isn’t as strong as their previous matches when they take on Broulee at Harden on June 18. This wont mean Harden can take it easy. They will nedd to step up to beat the upcoming sides. Harden will enjoy the June long weekend bye before preparing for another coastal side. The Devils may creep up the ladder if everything goes to plan in the next few weeks. Another bye will be had on June 25 before the Devils face Milton at Harden on July 2. Harden defeated Milton 24-0 at Milton in the early round 4.
The men from the Bay struggled to get up the Clyde Mountain with the low coming in off the coast dumping hundreds of millimetres on the well known landmark. They continued to struggle early on against a Devils side desperate for a win. The Bay drew first blood with a converted try before Harden Five Eighth Kyle Murray ‘showed and goed’ for a nice try which split the defence. Bateman’s Bay struck back with another try as both sides worked each other out. Wet weather football is what was needed and at times this is how the Devils played with short safe passes and ball control. At other times this style went out the window and the ball was thrown about to be dropped in the wet. Harden set about controlling the ball again and waited for the Bay to make infringments at the breakdown or in ball handling. Several penalties gave Harden the field position they needed only for a try to be bombed close to the line after some good work. Clint Stevens let his fellow team mates know of his frustration in no uncertain terms and this seemed to bring the forwards together before half time.
After watching the lost opportunities in the first half from the sideline Matt Stadtmiller and Adam Walsh entered the fray. Touch Judge Harry Sachs was questioned by the opposition coach as to “Who are these two old B#$%@!$ds ?” Walsh brought direction to the forwards, packing down at number 8 before moving to Prop. Stadtmiller went in for two close range tries after some very good work by the Devils forwards who pepperred the Bay line for several phases. Alex Pirie spent ten minutes in the bin, however, he came back and would have run for more metres than any other player on the field. The only problem for Pirie was that he was so succesful in his runs that the Devils support were often left behind. From now on when Pirie gets the ball he needs to have two option to offload to, inside and outside of him.
Jesse Redmond had a hard day at the office at Fullback in the wet conditions. John Manchester shifted in from the wing to Half back and made a solid contribution. John Ryan continues to try hard each week and plays where ever he is put for the team which is anywhere from Half back to Full back such is his utility value. The Devils had a ‘sniff’ towards the second half and a win was in sight. They outscored the Bay in the second stanza, however a late try to the Bay left the score at 33-17.
Points went to Clint Steven (3) Alex Pirie (2) and Toby Hayden (1). Players player was shared between Jim Honner and John Ryan. The Devils must get off to a good start in their next match and cant aford to play catch up football if they are to reach their goal of paying off in the Plate Final which is between side which finish between 5 and 8 on the ladder. Numbers at Tuesday trainings continue to dissapoint and attendance needs to be rectified for the Devils to improve combinations. Unfortuanately Zak Leitner sufferred an ankle injury and the club wishes him a speedy recovery.
This week’s squad included 1) Jason Jason Mcguigan, 2) Ethan Bates, 3) Clinton Stevens, 4) Toby Haydon, 5) Leofaasolo Tamale, 6) Chris Young, 7) Adam Ceeney, 8) Jim Honner, 9) John Ryan, 10) Kyle Murray, 11) Corey Pearsall, 12) Alex Pirie, 13) Joe Thompson, 14) John Manchester, 15) Jesse Redmond, 16) Marcus Ashton, 17) Brent Loader, 18) Zak Leitner, 19) Matthew Stadtmiller, 20) Adam Perry, 21) Adam Walsh, 22) Marty Hawker.
