20
SPORTS
THE MESSAGE. BRINGING INTO FOCUS FILIPINO PRESENCE IN AUSTRALIA
www.kalatas.com.au | Volume 6 | Number 5 | FEBRUARY 2016
Tamaraws in tight thriller
THERE
were hardly
any press reports
anywhere about the
Philippine Tamaraws
out-muscling the bigger
Serbian forwards to
win a Test match at
the whistle, 18-12, at
Cabramatta Stadium on
Friday, February 5.
By JAIME K PIMENTEL
THE Sydney press may have
missed one of the most absorbing, thrilling and physical rugby
league matches of the pre-season.
Even counting games of the
major leagues.
Both sides played their hearts
out for 80 minutes, Serbia opening its account with a classy try
only five minutes into the game.
It was a wake-up call for the
Filipinos, who retaliated with
three successive tries.
A barreling charge over the
line by Rez Phillips left three defenders in his wake and sent out
the first signal of the Tamaraws’
fierce determination.
The Pinoys’ second try was a
spectacular gem.
A kick from 10 meters sent
Luke Srama and Michael Mason
chasing after the ball with three
Serbians in tow.
The ball bounced in-goal and
soared out of bounds. Speeding ahead of the pack, Sr ama
flew to catch the ball in flight and
flick it back inside to Mason who
grounded the ball.
Richard Goodwin added another try flying over the line on
the right wing.
Fortunately for the Serbians,
the Tamaraws’ conversion kicks
were unsuccessful.
Then, before the halftime siren sounded, Serbia suffered its
first casualty, with one of the
team’s big forwards limping off
the field injured.
At halftime, the Tamaraws
led, 12-4.
Serbia opened the second half
like men on fire. They piled two
tries in eight minutes to tie the
score, 12-12.
But shortly after, a second
Serb fell on a tackle and had to
leave the field on a stretcher.
Again a fresh replacement came
in, but that didn’t help much because a third Serb had to leave the
field limping and be replaced.
The Tamaraws now had the
momentum and the Serbians were
visibly tiring fast.
Before the final whistle,
Dylan Jones found an opening
and shot through to break the tie
and put the Tams ahead, 16-12.
The conversion kick by Ned
Stepherson added another two
points and sealed the fate of Serbia, 18-12.
Serbia’s desperate attack near
the Tamaraws’ defensive line
sent shivers up the Pinoys’ spine.
But the Serbians were denied at
the final whistle.
Tams’ captain Luke Srama
was named man-of-the-match.
Action at the Tams v Serbia game