Marr College S2 Vs Queen Victoria School S2

Marr College S2 welcomed Queen Victoria S2 to the playing fields in the School Barbarian Conference League. Marr were fully aware that QVS had been on an unbeaten run and prepared well during midweek training.

QVS began the game with admirable intensity at the breakdown and worked there way up the pitch by focusing on exposing the gaps at the side of the ruck. The mercurial QVS stand off was a joy to watch with great footwork and offloading skills bringing his team mates into the game to score the opening try. Marr had learned the lessons from previous games this season, matching the quality and tempo of the QVS Play, this lead to several attempts on the QVS try line only to be thwarted by some excellent tackling by the QVS wing. Marr then equalised with a well worked team try from the a scrum in the QVS 22 with a fine finish from LSA.

The game recommenced with two teams committed to playing flowing Rugby, and went back and forth before the QVS stand off delivered an exceptional offload to release the outside centre to score under the posts. Marr replied in kind with several phases of controlled play before deploying the backline and again a positive team try finished by FD. Marr were countering the combinations of the QVS back row and standoffs ambitions to create space for his centre teammates, and taking their own style of play to QVS. This began with several line breaks and within the QVS 22 score a try from a line-out, finished ruthlessly by SM. QVS sought to score before the halftime whistle, the Marr defence disagreed and two outstanding technical tackles from CG set the tone for Marr's work ethic in defence.

Half Time: Marr (11) QVS (8)

Marr & QVS began the second half with similar vigour and commitment as the first half. QVS breached the Marr defensive line with some positive play and again moments later. Marr had taken an absence of leave in tackling the oposition, perhaps as one parent noted "players may have been fixing haircuts and tucking in their playing shirts with the arrival of the Hockey Girls" supporting from the sidelines. Marr galvanised their style of play and adopted a route one approach with some marauding forward play and real urgency to bulldozer there way over the try line near the posts. The game was now finely balanced and the next score would most likely secure the win for either team. This was acknowledged by both sets of players, seeking the break, offload the clinical pass. Marr received a kick and set to attack with the ball going through several pairs of hands to release FD to score under the posts. Marr now in the lead with 5 mins of play, adopted a ruthless approach to defence and line speed forcing the QVS error count to rise, and closed out the game to win.

Both teams deserve a huge amount of credit for, work ethic, skill-sets, organisation, dedication, flair! all attributes of competitive teams. This was all coupled with a real sense of enjoyment being shown by the players with mutual respect contributing to a competitive fixture, which was pleasing for all involved.

Marr look forward to a return fixture and wish the QVS players and coaching staff every success for the remainder of the season.

Full Time: Marr College S2 (19) Queen Victoria School (16)
Marr MOM (HB)
Magic Moment ( QVS Stand off, offload for the second try)