Ravens Climbing Table Ravens 52 – Lomas 19: Report by Peter MacDonald
A close game was expected between these two west side rivals, and it was that till the 20-minute mark. The Lomas controlled possession and scored early but the Ravens then reeled off 8 tries on the trot, four in each half, suggesting that their game may now be rounding into form.
The Ravens with Lockie Kratz at #10 put the Lomas under pressure with chip kicks and high kicks to the wide areas which began the process of unlocking the Loma defence. Raven steals at the contact areas and Loma knock-ons allowed the Ravens to counter quickly and find acres of space out wide. Cole Keffer, who does his best work sidestepping in a phone booth, has never seen so much space with his only concern being which of the four guys in support he would lay it off to when the tackler on the horizon came into play.
The Ravens won the gain line battle and appeared to be the fitter team. And the turnover plus minus heavily favoured the Ravens. Initially even in the sets the Ravens had the upper hand but the Lomas came on gradually with new prop Joyner Gaualota helping to turn things around.
After an apparent ninth Raven try by lock Don Carson was called back for a high forearm fend the Lomas scored two tries at 78 and 80 minutes to backdoor cover the spread and ring up a final game score that more accurately reflected the play.
Loma’s captain Jalan Farris put in a ton of tackles to lead the way. Locks Craig Trimble and Conor O’Brien were excellent in the lineouts and in open play. O’Brien scored late and set up the last try with a burst of speed and a feint. Left winger Keith Graham showed his power. His running mate on the right, Ben Pope, was more quickness and guile.
The Ravens front three of Saman Rezapour, Riku Konrad and Louis Kassapian put their stamp on the game early in the sets. The back row of Locke, Rumball and Tierney was high level with Joe Locke gaining the hard yards that wore down the Lomas. Humorously, at a ruck, the ball ended up in Lucas Rumball’s jersey with #9 Billy Wickham having to roll up his shirt to dig it out. That was slow ball. Kratz, Ethan Berry, Keffer and Andrew Coe were strong in the backs with Berry picking off a pass for an intercept try and doing all the little things right. Wickham, like a fourth backrower, played his usual solid game.
Thanks to referee Saro Turner who always does an excellent game. Next up is UVic at home with a return date with the Lomas before Christmas.