Last week the Club sent a squad of men’s players, coaches and support staff to Brisbane for a four-day preseason camp and rugby tour.
The rugby tour comprised an amazing group of new and old players to the Club and the coaching group. Over half of the squad were new for season 2023, which is an exciting prospect leading into the community Rugby season that starts on Saturday 29 April.
Match day at Sunnybank and the ‘sunshine state’ really turned it on – the fields were green and fast; the reception was warm and friendly; and the squad was keen and eager to play.
Game 1: Sunnybank v Melbourne
This match had it all – Melbourne scored first with Rona crossing the chalk in the third minute after deciding a 35-minute return from injury would be the test that he needed. It was 5-0 after the conversion hit the upright.
Ten minutes later and Sunnybank scored after consecutive penalties gave them good field position that left Melbourne down 5-7. A 40-metre break through the centres by a flying Sale led to Christian backing up brilliantly to go 60 metres to score and it was 10-7 before new recruit Benny Ruawai kicked his first for the day and Melbourne was up 12-7.
Sunnybank’s flying Fijian winger was a handful and he scored next after some excellent footwork; a big downfield kick; and a bounce to match saw the Dragon’s score and convert and it was 12-14 at the halftime break.
It would be a tight tussle for the start of the second half until the 18th minute when just as Sunnybank attacked Melbourne’s line and looked certain to score, Laveni Ierome (who considers himself a flyhalf in a props body), sprinted off the line and reeled in an intercept that had the entire crowd on their feet.
The Unicorns were in elation and the Dragons were in complete disbelief. He continued to sprint a further 40 metres before hearing the footsteps about to tackle him closing in before he weighed up the situation and calmly popped it onto the boot for another 20 metres for PJ to fly past and regather before being tackled and popping a pass off the ground back up to Benny ‘on fire’ Ruawai to catch and score under the posts untouched
Even the Sunnybank crowd were cheering – it was clearly the try of the day. Ben converts and its 19-14 to the tourists.
Less than five minutes later and Sale cuts through again with a blinding 45 metre run before a kick ahead that leads to another try and conversion and its 26-14.
You think it’s all over, we had two tries disallowed, but Sunnybank had other ideas. After a scrum and a cheeky blindside raid and kick ahead, they regather to score and after a missed kick its 26-19 with only 3 minutes left.
Some great teamwork led to an attacking play and smart ball work saw our fullback Ally Davidson score on debut for the Unicorns and ‘flyhalf’ Laveni missed the kick on full time. The final score was 31-19 to the Unicorns.
Game 2: Sunnybank v Melbourne
The second match was a close arm wrestle that saw some huge hits and spectacular runs. A couple of disallowed tries meant Melbourne went into halftime nil-all after playing most of the half with only 14 men.
Not sure what rocket the Sunnybank coach gave his players at halftime, but they came out nearly as hot as the temperature – scoring after three minutes following a ‘try assist’ missed tackle from ‘Dan the Man’ and conversion saw Melbourne down 0-7.
The game continued with stoic defence and good line breaks shut down by great cover defence.
Melbourne’s Captain Graig Semisi left many a Sunnybank player knowing they had played a game on Sunday morning after the bell ringers he dished out, but Sunnybank scored again after about a thousand scrums and five consecutive penalties and its 0-12.
Arran Wilson was sure to score after a charged down kick popped up perfectly for him until he tripped up a defender before scoring under the posts that resulted in the try being called back much to the disbelief of the bench and parts of the crowd. Unlucky and still down with clock winding down.
It was the 28-minute mark before Melbourne scored with Tyberg crashing over from 20 metres out and Dylan Meyers converting making it 7-12 with 12 minutes to go.
Melbourne continued to go close, but just couldn’t finish off their hard work. At full time, Sunnybank were winners 7-12, but Melbourne was far from disgraced, winning many new fans.
Sunnybank awarded Club ties to best forward and backs in both games with Game 1 seeing Clinton Herbst and Laveni Ierome awarded best and fairest. In the second match Graig Semisi and Hayden Collins were nominated as best on ground. Jumpers were also presented to each Club by management.
A great weekend away where faces became names; team mates became friends; players became brothers; moments became lifelong memories and more Premierships were born.
A huge thank you must go to the Coaching team; the Club President and Committee; and our Sponsors for without your support this weekend could not have happened and to the players, you really did do your Club proud.
After this weekend with this bunch of players wearing the jersey, the future looks bright indeed, bring on Season 2023.
Written by Mike ‘Gilly’ Gillard
