Feb. 22, 2006
SAINTS CRUSHED IN HOME OPENER.
Tijuana Looters go on
try scoring spree.
Report by:
Simon Montelo
PFT News, Sacredicity
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Having lost a close match on Sunday, it was hoped that the Saints would
put a more dignified effort onto the pitch and come away with a much more
rewarding effort against the Tijuana Looters. Alas, the Looters
however were all fired up as well and used their speed to get around the
slow moving Saint forwards and backs to easily run up the score and win
the match at Heavens Gates Field in Sacredicity.
From the opening kickoff it was evident that both teams were not even close to being evenly matched. The Saints were superior in the rucking department however once the Looters got the ball out to their backs it was completely different. Though not the fastest team in the tournament, the Looters used their speed to get away from the lumbering forwards, and with their superb ball handling were able to easily get the ball down to the wing were on several occasions found that they had an overlap which they used to score many times on the Saints. ___________________________________________________________ '...you can't hit what you can't catch.' -angry Saints fan in regards to why the Saints lost today. ___________________________________________________________ By the end of the 1st half the score was 24-0 with the Looters in full control. During the second half, though the Looters did not control the play on the field as much as in the first, they still were able to increase their overall lead. The Saints were completely unable to do much of anything with their backs, relying instead on the forwards to ruck their way through for the odd score for Sacredicity. Midway through the second half, the forwards had scored their second try of the match when on the ensuing kickoff the ball was kicked to the Saints backs who were caught off guard. The Looters backs were able to use their speed and corral the ball and bring it across the try line to retake the momentum and crush any chance the Saints had of launching a late comeback as the convert made the score 31-12 in the 70th minute of play. As the game winded down the Looters were able to get six more points off of penalties to make the final 37-12. After the match disgusted fans vented their frustration verbally at the players and then later on in the parking lot. Saints fan John Grand noted after the match that, 'the Saints need more speed, they were turtles out there, and great tackling or not you can't hit what you can't catch'. Other fans were less constructive with their criticism, one fan noting out loud when we asked her opinion that, 'the Saints just sucked'. In other Rugby Premier League news: -The Camelot Wasps continued their dominance of the Jones
Division as they defeated the Dugan City Terrapins -The Brunstone Avalanche continued their circus act at Savage Field as they were beaten down by first the snow and ice, and then by the visiting Tanka Sharks who destroyed the Avalanche easily 39-12 in Brunstone. |
Members of the Saints limp off the field after their second loss in as many games. |
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SEE ALSO: Saints Prepare for the Tijuana Looters (PFT News; Feb. 21, 2006 Saints Lose In International Rugby (PFT News; Feb. 20, 2006) New Rugby League Emerges (PFT News; Feb. 7, 2006) |