A good day for the club with all 3 Senior teams beating Moorabbin – an event that does not happen all that often. Colts unfortunately went down to Melbourne Blue though 18-34 in a game that was tight for much of the day except for a short 10 minute period when Melbourne scored 3 quick tries.

1st Grade

1st Grade was coming up against a weakened Moorabbin team due to state commitments and injury – but these are the sort of games that can be dangerous. The team started well with good focus and continuing to play the expansive game that comes naturally. The set piece was solid and the backs ensured that they delivered the golden rule of backline play – ‘Never make a forward run backwards’. Brendan Goodwin started the try scoring with a 70 metre team kick return started by Chris Grelis which was followed by other first half tries to TJ Lavea, Kaylen Brown and Josh Moore to have the bonus point secured before half time as the team led 31-7 at the break. The team kept their focus in the 2nd half, to score another 4 tries to Charlie Sale, Maciu Vosa and two tries to winger Alf Mika. Moorabbin scored two late tries to make the score 57-21 with a number of older members believing it to be the first time in the clubs history that 50 points had been put on a Moorabbin 1st Grade team.

2nd Grade

After a tough match against Melbourne the previous week, Harlequin 2nd’s were looking to keep the intensity up against 3rd Place Moorabbin. Harlequins dominated the first half controlling the ball and field position. After a break from man of the match, Johnny Iosefo, Bill Darby was there in support to dive over next to the posts. Harlequins second try came from a counter attack after a Moorabbin kick. Nathan Redfern put Siof Tulanga into space and ever present Will Morgan was there to finish the try off. Harlequins continued to put Moorabbin under pressure and Reid Bradford scored their next try from close range after a number of phases. The 4th bonus point try came after a slick backline move from a lineout and Sam Davey put Richard Henderson away in the corner. Harlequins took a 20 – 0 lead into half time.

Harlequins knew that Moorabbin were a team that could score points quickly and needed to start the second half well. Moorabbin attempted to run the ball out from their own try line and handed Iosefo his first try when they threw the ball straight at him with an open try line. Iosefo scored his second try after Harlequins created a turnover, then moved the ball quickly and Harlequins broke through to score. Moorabbin continued to throw the ball around and started to break through one on one tackles and scored two tries and would have had a third if a red faced centre hadn’t dropped the ball over the try line. Harlequins finally running out winners 34 – 12.

Team points : 3 – Johnny Iosefo 2, Daniel Henry 1, Nathan Redfern