A Decade of Dreaming
All images curtesy of Kevin Scott
Players, staff and fans of AAC arrived early and en mass to the fields of T’Gooi RC, eager to reclaim their position back into the Dutch Ereklasse. AAC’s first problem also arrived early as the starting winger, Johnson, pulled a groin in the warmup. Luckily enough Head Coach, Jeffries, was prudent and brought several travelling reserves. Youngster, Buntsma was called up to the bench while Tunley was given the responsibility to start.
With the rest of the warmup complete without impediments and the team talks done, the players took to the fields in a haze of blue smoke billowing from the fans’ flairs. It was AAC’s flyhalf, Huckle who kicked off under the 25°C beating sun, instigating the most exhilarating afternoon of Dutch rugby.
Four minutes into positive play in the USRS half and AAC were awarded a penalty at the breakdown where they opted for a Lineout and had their first attacking opportunity. A dummy maul was set that released loosehead, Stanczyk, for a devastating approach to the line but he was stopped short. AAC played with the forwards for a few phases but eventually got turned over. A slightly longer hold after the whistle from the USRS boys caused tempers to flair, the ref to call in the captains for his first discipline check. It was then USRS’ turn to take control with a precise kicking game, using a well weighted chip and chase that caused scrumhalf, Suarez Lago, to over reach. Already off balance, it wasn’t difficult for the supporting chasers to isolate and turn him over, giving USRS their own maiden attack. Throwing a second not-straight in ten minutes, AAC were afforded some breathing space and a chance to exit. The exit they wanted took time but eventually came, finding space well enough in the opposition half that the receiver knocked on, into touch. Undeterred by the blistering heat and eager to take advantage of a spotty defence, winger, Jooste, threw in to himself to keep USRS on their toes. A cultured box kick from Suarez Lago found the space behind the backline where late call-up, Tunley, managed to scoop the ball up and take them within five meters of the try line. USRS immediately panicked and coughed up a penalty. Posts were called for and Huckle delivered the first points of the day. Twelve minutes in and 3-0.
AAC were next to fall foul of the ref as they got caught for another ruck penalty but stoped the subsequent lineout drive. Throughout the first quarter of the game the AAC scrum gradually deteriorated and by minute twenty they gave away a scrum penalty. With it being in the 22m, USRS sensibly kicked the points to level the game. The breakdown penalties continued to come in USRS’ favour. Finding themselves once again in the AAC 22m, it was a tackle and turnover from Suarez Lago that denied them any further points. Touch is missed from the kick and AAC were again defending in their own half without respite. USRS played themselves right up to the try line and continued to attack with an authority that asked many questions of the AAC defence. With the pressure building, AAC were penalised again and this time with a last warning from the ref. USRS pointed to the posts and took the lead. Twenty eight minutes and 3-6. Tunley achieved his second break of the day down the right wing after he caught an offload from hooker, Solari. With the breakdown within sniffing distance from the line, Stanczyk, with an angled run, finally got the try he was denied earlier. Conversion secured and it became 10-6 with ten minutes until the half. The first substitute is made as Crick replaced an exhausted Frehe, as tight head prop.
USRS attacked from the midfield and due to a poor drift defence they found the space to break through and dot down their first try of the game. With the conversion slotted, USRS lead once again with 10-13. AAC managed to hold up the maul from the restart and the subsequent scrum attack put Jooste through on a line break. Due to poor execution in the next play the ball is lost and USRS have their chance to exit. An accidental tackle in the air from USRS gave AAC another opportunity to attack before the half was up and this time they came away with another seven when Huckle found the dogleg and went over the line untouched. With the easy extras they had one more minute to play at 17-13. USRS received a penalty straight from the restart as they turned over the catcher. Their metronomic kicker sent everyone to the break at 17-16.
The players emerged from what little shade bordered the field to commence the second half with an immediate penalty for AAC on kickoff. Fullback, Hitchcock, jinked his way through the defensive line after a clean set piece play and offloaded to a supporting Suarez Lago. Finding themselves just five meters out there was an attempt for a try but the ball was knocked on. It was USRS’ turn for the next line break as the AAC defence bit in and allowed space for their winger to run from half way. Hitchcock put the brakes on this attack as the last man in defence but the ref was unsatisfied with the ruck defence and sent 8-man, Backhouse, to the bin for side entry. Despite being in front of the posts and only 1 point down, hubristically, USRS chose for a scrum, clearly with the thought that it would be fragile due to the loss of personnel. They managed no more than a slight nudge before playing the ball wide and knocking on. This scrum ended with a penalty for AAC due to the loose head prop losing his bind, struggling to handle his opposite man. USRS go through some well worked coast to coast play but fail to make any dent in the AAC drift defence and eventually got isolated for a turnover. Failing to make an efficient exit, AAC find themselves once again defending wide play but managed to repeat their performance for another turnover. This time they worked up the field and earned a penalty off of a frustrated USRS. AAC won their lineout and continued to use their forwards to punch their way down the right hand side of the field until they opened up the space for Jooste to dive into the corner. Celebrations were cut short though as the touch judge couldn’t confirm a grounding and at sixty minutes the scores remained the same.
A stoppage in play saw youngster, Adriaanse, replace Stanczyk at loosehead, coming straight into a scrum that the USRS pack had clearly targeted. They worked a penalty and this time, sensibly kicked it to give them the edge at 17-19. Feeling the pressure, AAC make another change, this time the centres removing Bushnell for Breger. Disaster was soon to strike for AAC though as captain and talisman, Bakker, is sent for ten minute for a high tackle and USRS score another 3 points. The tight head position gets rotated again as a rested Frehe returned to the field and AAC restart trailing by 5. AAC’s luck would continue to fade as USRS worked the full length of the field from the restart, culminating in a try under the sticks and an easy conversion. 17-29 and twelve minutes to go. AAC were to get their first ray of hope as the ref saw it necessary to give USRS their first yellow for repeatedly holding the ball on the floor. Bonenkamp replaces Tunley while in the forwards a seasoned Impertelli comes on once Bakkers yellow card punishment was fulfilled. The changes added a boost of speed to the AAC attack and after a series of offloads up the middle of the field they were awarded a penalty. A tap and go is made and after a brief attempt with the forwards, they swung it wide to find a loose Albstmeijer with enough of a mismatch to crash through for a try. The conversion is wide and the score sits at 22-29. AAC attempted to play out of their own half but are met with a determined defence that wins a penalty in front of the sticks. With only a minute to go on the clock, all looked lost for the boys in blue.
The penalty, however, ricocheted off the upright and was collected by Hitchcock. Soon enough USRS was caught offside and AAC had an attacking lineout at half way just as last play was called. AAC remained patient and while going through their attacking phases received a high tackle which resulted in another yellow for USRS and a fresh attacking opportunity for AAC. The lineout was messy but so was the USRS defence. Suarez Lago collected the loose ball and basketball passed to Breger who, with unbelievable poise, slipped three tackles to cross the line and made the extra metres to the posts. This gave Huckle the easier task of knocking over the extras to draw the points, bringing the game into extra time at 29 all.
An Exhausted AAC managed to claim their own restart and immediately won a penalty. Unfortunately, Huckle’s attempt at three points was unsuccessful. USRS had the next attempt at sticks after AAC were punished for not pushing straight in the scrum. Their attempt however, was successful. They compounded their lead by returning the restart with a break on the wing and going the length to score. The conversion stuck and USRS took the lead 29-39. Time was up on the first half of extra time and there was still a scrum to play for AAC. With some well worked hands they found Hitchcock on the wing who, after beating his opposite man on the outside got tackled just before the try line but popped it up to an attentive Huckle who’d followed his pass. Not content with just the try, Huckle also kicked the extras and all was not lost as the score stood at 36-39.
AAC retained possession from the restart and hammered their way towards the half way line. The going was slow until Adriaanse took a cleaver pick and go that saw him enter the 22m before he was taken down. With the defence under pressure it wasn’t long until USRS got penalised for not rolling away. The mark was right in front of the posts so the stand-in captain, Solari, asked Huckle for the three points and he obliged to make it 39-39. After a deep kick from USRS, AAC went off script and attempted to play out of their own half but a miscommunication meant they conceded a penalty for crossing. USRS used this to stretch their lead by another 3. 39-42 and AAC received the restart with one last chance to win the game. From the halfway line USRS are called for going off their feet at the ruck and without hesitation, Breger decided to tap and go. He crabbed across the field and drew the defender, releasing the ball at the very last moment to Bushnell, who ignited the burners and with the field strewn with the weary and injured, sprinted the length to score. There followed a tense few moments as the referee consulted with both touch judges to discuss an off-the-ball altercation, but after much deliberation the arm was raised and whistle blown. AAC won the game and promotion to the Ereklasse, final score 44-42.
