PANORAMA RFC TAKE ON EDEN PARK RFC - 11 JULY 2009

Saturday 11 July, saw Panorama RFC take on Eden park RFC in a much anticipated battle. After another great preformance by the under21 side started the day off. A great game in which they beat their counterparts 38-5. The lads proved once again that they are a quality side and are going from strength to strength. They started off slow but turned it on in the second half and there was no doubt who was the better side. They showed good disciplince to close out the game and were clinical in a game that could have easily been loose and scrappy. Well done Lads. Eden park could not field a Second side so unfortunatily our "old boys" could not get a run and their flamboyant rugby was a much missed specticle on saturday. The 1st XV then took to the field lead by Captain Daniel (Ozzy) Garozzo. The Panorama pack looked to out-weigh the Eden Park pack but the the opposition pack made up for there lack of weight with technique and sheer determination. Even dominating our forwards at some stages. They very quick to the beakdown and stole a fair amount of our ball. Their first try coming from a kick after a turn-over. The Panorama side then lost some of its structure and played well in patches. We managed to captalise on a set piece from a line out in their 22 and Fly-half Mike Bow scored just to left of the uprights. We then lost one of our go-to-forwards Andrew Short, who left the field with a bad ankle strain. Eden Park then replied with a great oppertunist try and went in the half-time break in the lead. Half-time Score: Panorama 7 - Eden Park 17.

The Panorama boys came out of the break with a very different attitude and this could be seen in their body language. Immediately they started to put the phases together and the pattern started to work. Eighth-man Joseph Short lead the charge from the forwards, proving very diffucult to contain and the cleaning out by his pack was clinical and brutal. He then finished off a great bit of play that saw the ball travel the length of the back-line, followed by 4 great phases from the forwards and Jo going over close to the posts.Panorama 14 - Eden Park 17. The lads then reset and started the invasion of their oppents half once agian. Some tactical substitions were made in the back-line to get some fresh legs on as the sheer pace of the opposition back-line was taking its toll. Panorama then clawed their way into the opponents 22 and Scrum-half Warren Hurter cap off a brilliant wrap move to score in the corner. Panorama 19 - Eden Park 17. Once agian Panorama prepared for the frontal assult. Great ball retension by the Panorama forwards saw the Eden Park boys getting frustrated and give away too many penalties. One which was directly in front of the posts. Replacement centre Jacques Meyer took the quick tap and barrelled over the white-wash under the posts. Panorama 26 - Eden Park 17. Eden park being a side that never gives up a great credit to them came back with a great try to prove why you need to chase kicks for posts. Kick missing and then being knocked on by the panorama player only to fall into the hands of the chasing Eden Park player. Panorama 26 - Eden park 22. With 8 minutes to play the game was still definately anyones. The Panorama forwards continued to show great ball retension but the lads from Eden Park had renewed vigour and managed to smuggle the ball out on their side. They then showed that they too could put the phases together. They then showed great ball skill in getting the ball out to their wing with an overlap and 45meters to the try line. However the panorama cross cover stepped it up a gear and hauled him in just before the line in a tackle that knocked the ball out of his hands. it was then a case of kick the out and play the last minute in their half. Final Score Panorama 26 - Eden Park 22

Well done boys what a great comeback win and total domination of the second half. Outstanding jobs by the forwards ann special mention to Joseph Short who was unstoppable and wing Chris Swanepoel who was rock solid in defense and put in a number of try savers. All in All Awsome game panorama and well done to a side that has been rocked by injuries. Great job and good luck for Friday. Jacques Meyer