Poor Clydesdales left with plenty to work on
Early on the Western Clydesdales looked like a team set to record their first win of the 2024 Hostplus Cup season.
At home to competition leaders Mackay Cutters, the Clydesdales responded in perfect fashion after going behind to a Mahe Fonua try in the 11th minute.
Tahj Amone (20th minute) and Fua Schwalger (26th minute) crossed the line for the Clydesdales and the home side held a 14-6 lead with less than 10 minutes left in the first half.
Full of confidence the Clydesdales matched it with their more fancied rivals, but the Cutters asserted their dominance going on to record a 52-14 win.
Here are our five biggest talking points from the game.
DEVASTATING 9 MINUTES
It took all of nine minutes for the Cutters to all but crush any hope the Clydesdales had of winning on Sunday.
Trailing 14-6 shortly before halftime the Cutters took a 24-14 lead into the sheds at the break.
Jamal Shibasaki (31st), John Radel (35th) and Kauri Aupouri-Puketapu (38th) scored tries for the Cutters and Riley Dean nailed all three conversions.
Sections of the crowd were adamant two of the tries were off forward passes but the match officials thought otherwise.
FONUA’S KEY TRY
If the three tries shortly before halftime didn’t cost the Clydesdales a shot at victory, Fonua’s second just after the break did.
After having a try of their own waved away for a forward pass, the Clydesdales conceded a cheap try. Fonua burrowed over from close to the line in the 47th minute and the try was the final blow.
CONFIDENCE TEAM
One thing is certain about the Clydesdales – they are a confidence side.
What they lack in experience they make up for with belief, unfortunately that belief only appears to drive them when things are going their way. The Clydesdales grow stronger every minute they are ‘in a game’ but when things go against them they tend to break.
Against the Cutters they looked the part for the opening half-hour before being rocked by those three tries.
POOR DEFENCE
Too often the Clydesdales fell off tackles, particularly in the second half, and it made life a lot easier for the Cutters forwards.
The Cutters pack regularly took advantage of the Clydesdales broken line – gaining valuable extra run metres and momentum. Once they had the Clydesdales on the back foot in the middle – the Cutters quickly took advantage out wide.
The Cutters broke 47 tackles and produced 534 post metres to the Clydesdales 378.
ERRORS COSTLY
Both teams produced the same amount of errors – 10 – but the Clydesdales’ came at times when they really needed to establish momentum.
If the Clydesdales were a little more patient they could’ve established better field position and maybe scored a few more points to make the scoreline more respectable.