Round 1 of the Alex Alexander Cup continued with the competitions two undefeated teams – the Don Fosters Dive Iguanas and the Queensgate Pigs Trotters – facing off for what was sure to be a hard hitting encounter of the early season heavy weights. The Pigs were the pre-season favourites, but the Iguanas had the favourites tag firmly placed on their backs with their first game destruction of the 2004 Champions BPC Buccaneers.
The initial hit-ups lived up to the billing, as both sides ran the ball hard and fast in tight, with both packs of forwards delivering some big hits, but neither side surrendering an inch easily. Paul ‘Barrell’ Johnson of the Pigs was dynamic in the early stages, causing havoc for the Iguana scrum-half, Jimmy Mara, and anyone else in his way. Unfortunately for the Pigs he suffered an early injury and was taken from the field.
The middle stage of the first half continued to be a forward slug-fest, until a stray ball popped to Stu ‘Twinkle Toes’ McMillan. Not satisfied to use his speed to head out wide, he stepped most of the Pigs forward pack, before turning on his afterburners and leaving most the field in his wake. With the full-back and several desperate cover defenders to beat, he looked to have met his match, only to step deftly inside them all, and score a 60 metre try under the posts all but untouched.
This amazing score seemed to deflate the Pigs and perhaps generate some feelings of invulnerability amongst the Iguanas pack as shortly thereafter Mat ‘All the Skills’ Bishop decided to turn from Lock into Fly-Half and float a highball over the Pigs defenders… most of the play stopped in sheer amazement, with the exception of Peter ‘Tank’ De Vere, who flew like a fullback, taking the high ball over the Pigs backs and deftly offloading to a flying Chris Bunce who touched down under the posts for try number two for the Iguanas.
The rest of the half returned to the earlier hard hitting play, with no reward for some excellent work into the wind by the Pigs, and a penalty to the Iguanas to head into half-time with a 17-0 lead.
The second half was a see-sawing affair – the Pigs played smart rugby using the wind to stay camped in the Iguanas half, whilst the Iguanas attempted to run it out at every opportunity.
This was all to no avail until an Iguanas lineout 30 metres from the Pigs line. The canny duo of Chris Jackson and Campbell Law threw a quick lineout ball that barely went the 5 metres and was knocked back by the Pigs, only to bounce into the hands of a flying Campbell Law. There was considerable confusion as to whether it was a knock-on, even causing Campbell to stop and look inquiringly at the referee… the referee had been perfectly placed, and signaled play on – it was a Pig that knocked the ball back! After this brief rest, Campbell sprinted the remaining 5 metres to seal the match.
Refusing to give-up, the Pigs charged at the Iguanas from the restart, driving deep into their territory. A clever move by Pigs fly-half Scott McDonald in the dying minutes saw him carve the previously impenetrable Iguana defense and fly for the corner. Just as the defense was closing, he threw a desperate pass over his head to his flying outside centre, Brad Esch, who drove through the cover defenders to score the consolation try. It was great running from the Pigs, however it was too little too late, and the final whistle blew with the Don Fosters Dive Iguanas running out comfortable victors 22-7 to remain undefeated atop the AA Cup table.
This Saturday the Alex Alexander Cup is postponed for the Pirates Week Rugby Club Boat trip. However, hostilities resume on November 5th when the BPC Buccaneers take on the Cayman Storm at the South Sound Rugby Club.
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