There were plenty of unknowns heading into the 3:15pm match. Both teams were full of new faces and were eager to start off the double-round season with a win. The atmosphere and spectacle did not disappoint! The Joeys boys were exceptional in the first half. Brutal defence, discipline, and high-class attacking execution, put them up 21 – 0 at the break. Scots finally found their groove and were able to show why they are one of the big attacking threats in 2023. They took the lead with 8 minutes to go but with a player in the sin bin, our boys turned the momentum. Hwi Sharples capped off his player of the match performance with a late try, as Joeys retook the lead with 3 minutes to play. Finally, a last play penalty goal ended the match in a bittersweet 31-all draw. Whilst our boys will be disappointed with the result, they showed incredible resilience to get back into the lead in the final minutes and have gained the necessary belief required to win this tough competition.
Photos courtesy of Mr John Flitcroft.
