A Hard Loss

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONC1BKN4vhw

The Kings Cross Steelers beat us 16-8. KXS showed up and did what they had to do. In these tournaments the first five minutes can really set the tone for a disproportionate part of the game.

Early on our play was tentative and theirs was urgent. Seems like we had some sort of collective stage fright. Things seemed slow and clumsy on our side of the ball and smooth on theirs. A couple of knock ons, a lazy ruck lost and some loose ball at our own lineout resulted in a quick ten points for the Londoners.

We were not happy (duh!). After the 2nd try KXS was again in our 22. Stout defense is something our guys are comfortable with. After a number of hard phases KXS turned over the ball and Gotham found some sort of rhythm. Six phases of hard forward and center work set Kieran and James free on the wing for Gotham's first and only try.

After this the game entered a different phase. KXS played less expansively -- fewer kicks deep and much more crash ball. Gotham stopped losing possession at the ruck.

Unfortunately we now began to run up needless penalties. Diving over, off sides and coming in from the side were common. Even so we held the ball longer than the Steelers. Yet it seemed that every time we made progress we ended it with a penalty.

The game ended with KXS taking two penalty kicks to our one. We had our chances we just could not seem to really step up and take them. Put it down to "stage fright."

Thankfully it is only pool play.