Match Report for Muscat v Doha I 23 October 2009
By Peter Townson
Persistence pays may be Muscat RFC’s new motto. After several defeats, MRFC showed that they were just building a firm base to advance on. The 31-25 victory for MRFC reflected the persistence and quality.
It was the late surge that caused the one time confident Doha to capitulate to MRFC.
Starting the game slowly, it was Doha who showed the most desire gaining a penalty in the fifth minute which went wide. A clever intercept by Doha allowed then to score the game’s first try in the sixth minute and the conversion being made. MRFC absorbed the pressure and responded with a penalty kick in the 11th minute by Johan de Lange. This kick buoyed MRFC who seemed to be waking from their slumber. The game went two ways with Doha running hard at MRFC. Then in the 14th minute with the teams stretched across the field, a MRFC maul was formed. The conversion however was not successful.
The 8–7 scoreline reflected what was going on the pitch. MRFC apparently went back for a quick snooze. Doha kept the game running, moving the ball around the forwards and looking for the quick hands to spread the ball wide. MRFC showed some immature play with several passes going wayward and Doha was only happy to make the most of these loose balls. Doha missed a penalty in the 27th minute but kept the momentum and rushed in a try in the 29th minute. The conversion was made to count. MRFC defended desperately at times but always were looking to attack. With veteran Gareth Allum calming the younger players and picking out attacking opportunities, MRFC stayed in the game.
Doha was awarded another penalty in the 33rd minute which again was missed.
Doha , kept focus and pulled further away through another penalty in the 37th minute.
The 8-17 score in favour of Doha showed who had the greater desire despite MRFC’s Ben Webbstock constant lively forward moves and Paul Mclaren catching and getting back into attack.
The half-time saw MRFC make four substitutions with Saleh al-Busaidi being replaced by another Omani Jassim Lawati. Guido Brambilla on for Dan Maloney; Dominic Satny for Chris Buck and Jamie Gibson on for Paul Mclaren.
Doha continued where they left at the half, putting pressure on MRFC who was rescued by evergreen Gareth. In the 45th minute, Doha again pushed through for a try and again did not make the conversion count. In the 49th minute the MRFC half time talk kicked in; with Johan taking on the defence, brushing aside tackles gaining more than 40m with the support runners Wade Kilian and Karl Rasmussen-who pulled himself off the ground after a hard landing one minute earlier. This push ended five metres from the try line with Doha getting bodies in the way. Recovering from that assault, Doha responded confidently gaining a penalty and making it count taking a commanding 8-25 lead.
MRFC, finally awake, started stretching Doha and working the ball around the field.
In the 59th minute Johan converted a penalty taking the score up to 11-25. MRFC had two more substitutions ensuring all the team played, with Omani Harith al-Suliemany on for Joey Maniel and Alex Martin on for Dominic Winfield. The voices were then raised with Alex commanding the backs and the forwards responding.
Another penalty was awarded to MRFC in the 63rd minute raising the score to 25-14. Plucky play by Gareth led to his scoring a try through the centre of the field. The conversion was made making the score a reachable 25–21 for MRFC. The game started to swing back to MRFC way with Doha still trying to respond. The attacks by Doha left them exposed with Justin Pos breaking through on the 70th minute, gaining ground but being held up by desperate defending. With tails up, smelling victory, another MRFC surge was on.
Ever present Johan, broke through the tiring Doha defence showing that he has more than kicking ability. This led to a try and conversion by Johan taking MRFC into the lead 25–28.
Referee Andre Bosch was called in the 75th minute to calm the game down after some scrappy play bordering on the dangerous. A 78th minute penalty from the half line by man-of-the-match Johan sapped what little hope that Doha had.
MRFC was reminded in the 79th minute the game was not over when a penalty was missed keeping the score 25-31. With a sense of bravado MRFC decided to run the ball into play instead of kicking it out which lead to an extra two minutes of play that gave neither team much benefit. After the match MRFC captain Jason Voyce, said the guys showed good heart and took the game to Doha . “The guys dug deep to get the win.”
Doha’s captain said his guys showed heart to stay in the game. MRFC’s coach Stan Matthews commented that MRFC played well in phases and made mistakes which Doha took advantage of. Tyrone Van de Berg was Doha ’s man-of-the-match.
MRFC would take this win in their stride as they play Abu Dhabi in Abu Dhabi next week in the Gulf League match on October 30.