NAVY SHARKS FINAL POOL GAME – CLYDE & Co
(Clyde & Co has been regular finalists in this competition for many years – and draws its players from the Clubs in the UK which they sponsor). From the off it was evident by the size and physicality of Clyde & Co that they wanted to take contact and bash up the middle of the Sharks defence. The sharks quickly latched onto this and kept the ball moving avoiding contact wherever possible; with a good move going through at least 10 phases was finished off with a cutting line being taken by Joe Poole taking him under the posts and was converted by Rob Lloyd (7:0) A well marshalled defence again caused Clyde & Co to turn over the ball on 6 minutes and quick hands moved the ball away to Jamie Carauana who executed a perfect dummy breaching the Clyde line and side stepped the sweeper to go in untouched again under the posts, Rob Lloyd was again accurate with the conversion (14:0). Almost immediately from the restart Josh Drauniniu jinked his way past 3 players and turned on his after burners to score a scintillating 70 metre try, Lloyd Kept form and converted (21:0). Some interesting refereeing decisions just before the half lead to a lapse of concentration and a missed tackle allowed Clyde to finish the half with a converted try (21:7). Coach Billy May ringed the changes at half time and the Sharks took a couple of minutes to regain their composure and adapt to the hard hitting Clyde game plan. On the 15th minute a good defence again caused Clyde to turn over the ball, with Rhoddri Dicks making the first break for Pascoe who passed in the tackle to Satala and a wonderfully one handed take took Rob Lloyd under the posts which he duly converted (28:7). The Sharks were then happy to press and just hold Clyde but again leaked a converted try on just before the final whistle. Final score 28:14. This has been a really good first day in their defence of the International Overseas Competition where they will now meet Pyrennes (the team they defeated in last years final) in the quarter final. The fact that Pyrennes were beaten into 2nd place in their group underpins the standard of teams entered this year has improved.