Bvuma tries in vain as All Golds fall to defeat

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TWO tries in the last ten minutes by All Golds full back George Bvuma gave Valley Cougars a fright but they had enough points on the board to hold on for a 38-20 win.

In a feisty game with plenty of needle, the All Golds’ desire to put on a spectacular play rather than take field position and look to build pressure handed their opponents the advantage.

Three times they failed to find touch from penalties and twice sent restarts out on the full.

The visitors were undone by an opening 10 minutes in which they had no possession and conceded two soft tries. Helped by the rub of the green in the 50-50 decisions the Cougars were allowed to dominate the first period without hitting top form.

Leading 24-4 at the break, the scene was set for the Cougars to pull away and record a comfortable win.

However, the All Golds rallied in the second half, outscoring their opponents and putting in a much stronger performance.

The highlight was Bvuma’s double as he put in a committed performance adding a try-saving tackle on a runaway Lee Goddard to his dangerous forays forward.

The Cougars benefitted from a penalty on their first set and a generous call against the All Golds as they bundled Mike Hurley into touch to gain the field position for Craig Lewis to score. Dean Higgs forced his way over for a try immediately afterwards.

After the frenetic start, the game settled down until Hurley’s break ended in a try for Ben Jones with 23 minutes gone.

After Ash Lewis pushed a penalty kick wide, the Cougars increased their lead with the last play of the half.

The All Golds tried a trick play on a penalty which backfired as the kick intended for Bvuma fell to prop Lloyd Selby who showed remarkable skill and dexterity to evade tacklers and score in the corner.

The All Golds emerged from their half-time huddle with renewed purpose and were soon on the board.

Seven minutes into the half, Marcus Brown saw the Cougars’ defence asleep, took a quick tap penalty 15 metres out and ran through to score untouched. Lewis added the goal.

However, Sam Pridgeon went over after good work from Macauley Harris and Adam Watton stepped through to ease the Cougars out to 34-10.

In the last ten minutes, Bvuma struck twice with Brown and Jack Uren providing the telling passes for the winger to use his pace and score both times without a hand laid on him.

In between times, he chased and caught Goddard who looked certain to score, forcing the ball loose in the tackle.

However, the Cougars had the last word. In the final minute, the All Golds’ last attack fizzled out when a penalty failed to find touch and a Cougars move ended with Harris going over.

Hurley couldn’t convert but the Cougars maintained their unbeaten record at the top of the table.

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