3rd June, 2006
Dominant Display puts Roos in Clear Lead
by Adam Bennett

The IX Europe Reading Kangaroos put on a masterful display in Nottingham this weekend, to put themselves clear at the top of the table. Against the team most likely to be challenging for the top spot, the Roos dominated all over the pitch and kept on with the great improvement they've shown all through the season openers.

Even with such names as Banks, Trent and Barton missing from the line-up, and three players making their first appearences for the club this season, the Roos never faltered and only gave the younger Nottingham team fleeting glimpses of the goal. The back line held strong throughout the game, virtually shutting down the Nottingham attack, with Ian, Nackers, Mike, Tristan and Ads clearing up anything coming through. Ian in particular ran hard all game to shut down the fit and mobile Nottingham forwards and Ads was having the time of his life, attacking the ball like it was a punchbag insulting his Mum.

In the centre, Jules once more put in a strong claim for British no.1 in the ruck, providing good ball throughout the match. The Roo centre, made up of Oli, Paul, Crox, Gary and Andy Craig battled ferociously and gave the Scorpion centre very little chance to provide any decent ball to the forward line. Intelligent play and hard-running also gave the centre line many opportunities to add to the Roos growing score. Andy wrecked the pack time and again, taking the ball or clearing out enough that the support runners had an easy job getting hands on the pill. Crox showed a lot of class with some pin-point balls into the forwards leads.

Up top, Phil and Andy Whits gave a master-class in how to attack the ball, setting themselves up with numerous opportunities and slotting many home. Zac, playing in an unfamiliar role up front, in typically relaxed style popped up time and again to link up play and slot more than his fair share of goals. The distribution into the forwards was first class and allowed season-debuter Tony Keaney to get on the score-sheet twice, to his obvious delight. Also making his season debut was Ross, coming back into fitness and obviously enjoying being back on the oval. The way he bounced up smiling from an enormous number of huge hits, linking up play and shepherding for the ball-carrier was a great example.

On the sidelines, Joao kept the replacements rolling round and must have been ecstatic with the way the team is developing. The Regional Champions of two years ago took a bit of a pounding in the London league last year, but it's easy to see where these lessons were learned and the improvement in play is simply astounding. With the whole squad in great form, the club is looking forward to the Brit Cup, being held in Reading on June 17th, and hoping the the lads can go one better than the semi-final finish of last year.