Onwards and Upwards

After a heartbreaking 12 - 5 loss to Eltham last week, the Plovers are finally back at 'The Nest' for only the second time this season, and its a tough encounter with competition high flyers, Geelong.

If the weather remains fine, the ground will be in perfect nick for the encounter.

With two narrow losses, the focus this week has been on decision making, as the team has acknowledged that this, along with poor starts, has contributed to less than satisfactory results.

Being at home should mean that a fairly competitive field is available for selection, and the availability of a decent bench is probably a reasonable likelihood also.

Traveling has never been kind to the Plovers, with sparse numbers and often a mixed up look to the line up which takes the field. Last week being a classic example, with an incomplete backline and a paucity of loose forwards, many that did play, were in unaccustomed roles. The end result despite all other factors, was a credit to their tenacity. Even big Dom on the wing, played a significant role, getting on the end of the only scoring play.

The Plovers need to make the most of being at home. Hopefully the team can put in the performance that earns them the win they desperately desire.

Plovers suffer heart breaker in Melbourne

I have decided not to reflect as so many have on the game at the Brook last night. Enuff will be said over coming days. Instead I will focus on the heartbreaking defeat suffered by the courageous Warrnambool Plovers at Werribee yesterday.

It had all the makings of an even contest as the Plovers travelled to Melbourne to take on Melbourne Uni. Both sides with poor records this season. The game started well with the Plovers pack dominating. The defensive work of Scott Geange and Matt Webster was again on show. However it was the combined pack effort that had the Uni boys pinned in their 22 for much of the first half. Two superb tries scored out wide and through a driving maul off a well worked lineout had the boys up 10-7 at the half, after Uni capitalised on an error in the midfield to grab a run away try.

If only the highlight real could end there. Just before half time the purple and blacks were dealt a crushing blow Reihana 'Pep'
Heremaia was red carded when the Ref deemed a charge down attempt to be a high and late tackle.

Before time on in the second half, Uni approached the ref with a complaint that there hooker was struggling at scrum time. No real surprise as the Purple and Black pack had totally dominated this set piece for the first half. The ref ceded to their request for non contested scrums, robbing the plovers of a key area of dominance. This made both defence and attack easier for Uni and increasing the advantage they had in numbers. None of the boys were happy

One man down the plovers fought hard in the second half, some good defence at the back by Mike Diack and Jeremy 'Jezz' Hunt held for most of the half until with about 15 to go, the uni boys breached the line. A late penalty attempt was taken but missed by Jezz and the score finished 12-10 to Uni.

The boys were gutted.

A big hearted game from the pack, strong running from new boy Andy 'Jamar' Marr, and good work at the back from Mike Diack. Hard running from Matt, Scott and Liam Devlin in the forwards. The boys should be proud.