Jimmy Ponton

National Division One
 
FIVE points were within touching distance but in the end the Tigers failed to kill the game off and instead, to paraphrase that well known sports saying, they salvaged defeat from the jaws of victory.

But, as any player in the second tier knows, if you can’t come home with a win, at least grab the bonus points on offer, which is just what Sedgley did, bagging four tries and finishing within seven points of the All Blacks.

Poor Sedgley tackling ensured they gifted the opposition an early score, with Steve Perry eluding his markers to set up winger Jon Fabian who crossed for the first try, improved by the boot of Stuart Alred, son of the famous kicking coach, Dave.

Shaking off this early set-back the Tigers’ expansive play was rewarded with a penalty, which was duly kicked for a lineout. A successful catch-and-drive was rounded off by skipper Jimmy Ponton, although Steve Nutt missed the conversion.

After Alred missed a penalty the All Blacks regained possession and the ball was spun through the half-backs and three-quarters to flying wing Matt Jess, who outpaced the Sedgley cover to score between the posts to make it easy for Alred, whose second conversion took the score to 14-5.

If the All Blacks had the advantage in the backs, where they play a high-risk, pass-at-all-costs lateral game, the Tigers had the upper hand in the forwards and the pack drove over the Launceston try-line again, with Petrus Du Plessis apparently getting the all-important downward pressure, although it was officially awarded to Ponton. Unfortunately Nutt again missed the conversion attempt.

With the half-time whistle beckoning, the All Blacks increased their lead when scrum-half Sam Alford broke down the side of a scrum and out-paced and out-powered the Sedgley defence, with Alred’s conversion making it 21-10.

But the Tigers hit back in time-added-on when they once more emphasised their forward dominance with another push-over try following a line-out catch-and-drive. However, with Nutt missing with his kick the score at the break was 21-15 to the All Blacks.

After Alred and Nutt’s replacement Phil Jones swapped successful three-pointers, the Tigers stepped up a couple of gears and took the lead for the first time.
Hooker Johnny Roddam broke from the tail of a line-out and fed Jan Van DeVenter who drew in the home defence before slipping the ball back inside to Andy Craig to score. Jones’ conversion made it 24-25 to the Tigers.

The kicking duel between Alred and Jones continued with the Tiger getting the better as his two three-pointers to Alred’s one extended Sedgley’s lead to 27-31.

As the clock ticked down it looked like the Tigers would emerge from their trip with all five points. But then disaster struck.

In 81st minute the Tigers should have kicked a penalty dead, but instead the All Blacks gained possession and the ball was ran in by Jess, who was tackled 10 metres out. However, backing him up was replacement prop Richard Liddington, who drove over the line for a try. The final whistle was then sounded as Alred’s conversion sailed between the posts.
 
LAUNCESTON: Birkett, Jess, Sweeney (Westren 64), Perry, Fabian, Alred, Alford, Bolt (Liddington 40), Hambly, Reed (Brooking 59), Pape, Parker, Lord, Roques (Rawlings 59), Kimberley. Replacements nor used: Jenkins, Turner and Dibble.

Tries: Fabian, Jess, Aldred and Liddington
Penalties: Aldred 2
Conversions: Aldred 4.
 
SEDGLEY TIGERS: Riley, Briers, Craig, Payne, Van DeVenter, Nutt (Jones 40), Albinson, Halsall, Roddam, Du Plessis (Birchall 74), Fourie, Townson (Norris 73), Newton, Ponton, Skurr (Crous 53). Replacements not used: Keys, Gazzola and Wilkinson,

Tries: Ponton 2, Fourie and Craig.
Penalties: Jones 3
Conversions: Jones