21st July 2007
Under-strength Roos no match for on form Raiders
by Adam Bennett

The Kangaroos struggled through this encounter with the Shepherds Bush Raiders, understrength and struggling through the latter half of the season against experienced and well drilled opposition. For the first time this season, the Reading lads were totally outclassed for the majority of the match, and were never really in touch.

With a decent shower of rain coming down, both teams experienced some handling errors through the first half, but the qaulity of the ball into the Raiders front line enabled their forwards to kick a regular stream of goals, with only Philty replying for the Roo's solitary major of the game. Kurt, Jules, Jon and Ian were battling hard across the middle, but facing an awesome line-up of Aussies, they could not prevent break outs. At the back, Ads was struggling against a faster full forward, but the rest of the lads were matching up fairly well, Sam in particular battling hard and crumbing very well.

In the second half, the rain dried up, the sun came out and the Raiders began scoring in earnest, stretching away to a 100-point gap. Jules went AWOL for much of the 3rd quarter, looking for his wedding ring in the centre square after it slipped off, but luckily he managed to find it (and avoid severe testicular damage from Lou) when he found it toward the end of the quarter.

Rejuvinated by this incredible bit of luck, the Roos rallied in the final quarter, battling hard and reducing the Raiders to a handful of scoring chances, tackling and smothering well. At the end of the game, the lads came off the pitch and gratefully attacked the beers and barbeque - definitely a match to forget!

Final score: Raiders 21-13-139 - Kangaroos 1-2-8

Squad: Ads, Mark, Will, Sam, Ian, Jules, Jon, Kurt, Dan M, Phil, Russ, Timmy, Blackie, Niall, Oli, Paul