Well Gentlemen,
A gut wrenching loss this weekend. We played for 60 Minutes. Unfortunately from
10 minutes into the game to 30 minutes into the game we allowed Charlotte to score
4 converted tries and put ourselves in a 31-3 hole. Unfortunately the hole was
just a little too steep to climb out of.
We started the match very tentative and not much happened from either side in
the opening 10 minutes. We traded penalties and it was 3-3. The next 20 minutes
we just seemed to spectate. We would attack and then spill the ball over and Charlotte
did an excellent job of spinning the ball quickly and out flanking us. They scored
their tries from plays that started in their half of the field. For that 20 minute
period it felt like we were spectating and not really controlling the game at
all. We were not playing to the game plan and we were off our rhythm. Our urgency
was not there. They score 2 tries on quick taps close to the line when they got
to the mark first and we were still trying to get back. You have to get to your
feet quickly and get back. So we were suddenly staring at 3-31. A lot of teams
would just have dropped it there and thought it was over. What is awesome about
this team is that we had the belief in ourselves that we could win this game.
We finally started to play with a bit of fire in our bellies and started to play
our gameplan. Phil Weston crossed over just before half time and we went to the
break down 8-31. The 2nd half we finally started to play. The pack was starting
to create good ball for our backs to use and we were recycling the ball through
numerous phases. We were starting to get them on the back foot and we scored 3
excellent tries to Phil Weston, Chris Fallow and Mike Miller. Unfortunately the
deficit was too much to climb back from and we went down 31-43.
There are a couple of things we need to take from this game.
- The game is never over
till the final whistle. Excellent job by everybody in not giving up.
- We have to play the
game for 80 minutes. That 20 minute spell of spectating killed us.
- The importance of starting
the game strong. We can't afford to take 20 minutes to get ourselves into
the game.
- Discipline is paramount.
YOU HAVE TO MAINTAIN YOUR FOCUS FOR THE FULL GAME. In close games you can't
afford to give away stupid penalties to the opposition. These turn into scoring
opportunities or can ruin your momentum by letting the other team off the
ropes. Worse still you can not do something that ends up getting you put in
the bin.
It is important now that we all step it up a level. We need to pick it up at training
and in the work we do ourselves. We have this weekend off but we need 2 good weeks
of practice to prepare for the Nashville game. It starts tomorrow night with a
good practice to wprk on certain areas that were lacking on Saturday. It's important
that we ALL pick up the tempo now. We need to at least split the series with Nashville
and win the other 3 games to guarantee a playoff spot. We don't get any other
Mulligans from here on out. We have 5 more Matrix Games. Let's get ready for those
sarting tomorrow night.
Remember when you lose don't lose the lesson.
Dan Roberts
Coach Greenville RFC
Greenville Grffins Rugby Club