Locke is the Key: Ravens 30 – Bays 3 Match Report
by Peter MacDonald
On a wintry, wet day at Jericho the Ravens hosted the Bays in a quarterfinal matchup that appeared to have had a good deal of tactical preparation from both sides leading into the game.
The first half was a tight, methodical affair with little extended possession to either side. The Ravens were relying heavily on #8 Joe Locke to carry the ball on first phase and then to play off him. While the gain line was achieved, there was no consistent phase play until the 33rd minute when the Ravens big forwards, Donald Carson, Tom Kaijaks and Locke hit up consecutively from rucks allowing the ball to finally move left where Aaron McLelland sent in hook Matias Suez for the try in the left corner, 10-0 Ravens. The Bays got on the board near the end of the half through a penalty kick from a Ravens offside, 10-3 at the half.
In the second half, having regard for the weather, the Ravens doubled down on their forward play, mauling successfully and going to Locke repeatedly. The Bays backs were up quick in defense, intent on and successful in shutting down any Raven backline efforts. And the Bays tactical kicking was superior, denying the Ravens solid field position. The Bays were playing well, Mike Nieuwenhusen was pounding ahead from inside centre and by all rights the game should have been tied at 45 minutes when a Mitch Sora grubber caught the Ravens flatfooted near their line. Fullback Tom Burton ran onto the ball unimpeded but, despite a favourable bounce, he knocked on at the line allowing the Ravens to dodge a huge bullet.
Three minutes later the Ravens got the payoff for their direct forward play when Locke broke off from a maul that had advanced 30 metres. He took off on a rampaging run and fed Alex Ball from the back of his hand for Ball to touch down in the right corner, 15-3 at 48 minutes. Play remained tight, with the Bays still in it, till a Raven penalty kick at 59 minutes and a try at 62 minutes, Locke crashing in low from close to the line, bringing the score to 25-3. A final try at the full-time whistle saw winger Cole Keffer touch down a grubber in the right corner.
The Bays Crosby Stewart, Sora and Mostyn Findlay were sharp on the day in the backs and the pack stood in and were able to match the big Raven forwards for much of the game. The Ravens defended well with solid team tackling. Jake Ikeda and Locke drew penalties with their jackaling, Don Carson had a thundering hit and flanker Trevor Helgason was stuck in all day including a big lineout steal. Hookers Matias Suez and impact sub Jesse Mackail together squeeze 110% out of the position with Mackail instrumental in the second half push. Prop Conor Sampson contributed to some dominant sets and kept his cool despite some provocation at the first set.
The Ravens were more Hakeem Olajuwon today than Michael Jordan:
while Hakeem is a great player, he pretty much plays a ground game. Hes infantry. He slogs to the basket. Jordan is more like a stealth bomber. You cant see him coming, and you dont know where he is until you hear the swish of the net. Jim Murray, L.A. Times, Feb.4, 1996.
The Rippers won 48-7 over Langley and now advance to the semi-finals as the only team from the Premier Reserve league.
Looking forward to a big test against the Lomas next Saturday.