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Setback for LSA in falling to 8-5 defeat at Blackheath The team arrived in Blackheath for the second time in two weeks feeling the best prepared they had felt all season. The injuries and player withdrawals LSA had had to work around were not considered to be overly problematic.... Playing up the hill in the first half, LSA applied the early pressure. An early penalty was taken quickly by Daniel James sniping into the Blackheath pack who were penalised again for not retreating. An excellent take in the ensuing lineout by Bruce McClelland fed a strong forward's drive for the line only for the pack to be held up over the line. There followed two very good moves by the backs but, in what was to become a regular feature of the afternoon, the ball was lost and Blackheath managed to clear their line. This theme continued with some excellent tackling by the LSA backs and with the forwards dominating the lineout and regularly driving into the Blackheath 22. A penalty in the 8th minute gave LSA the chance to strike first but the kick was missed. This was to prove costly. On 15 minutes, the pack again showed their power with another outstanding lineout take, leading to an impressive rolling maul. LSA again crossed the line but were once more held up over the line. Tom Henry had now replaced Daniel James behind the scrum. This tactical switch was followed by Blackheath kicking a penalty to edge them in front. LSA were starting to make life difficult for themselves in what was becoming a tougher game than they had expected. The play settled between the 22s with neither team gaining a distinct advantage. Some excellent probing grubber kicks from Arnold Spaumer, back at 10 this week, turned the Blackheath backs on more than one occasion but LSA were unable to gain any advantage from the ensuing lineouts and Blackheath were able to clear their line. The referee’s interpretation of the rules on scrummaging was also causing LSA some difficulties and had led to a run of penalties against the front row. Partly in response to this, James Saunders joined the encounter in his favoured position in the front row. With little over 10 minutes to half time, LSA produced some great phases of play involving both backs and forwards but were unable to penetrate the Blackheath defence and once again possession was squandered. The second half began with a great team effort. LSA captain Ryan Hendrikz was again in the thick of the action - Hendrikz took a quick penalty and drove 15 metres into the heart of the Blackheath defence and from the resulting maul Mark Porter (starting at lock this week) drove over for a deserved try to put LSA ahead 5-3. As the second half developed it was clear that LSA were still spilling far too many balls in contact and forcing to many passes. 16 minutes into the half an LSA clearance from their own 22 fed a Blackheath counter attack. The advancing LSA line, up quickly to pressure the Blackheath receiver, was taken out of the equation by a kick to the corner from the Blackheath wing. A lucky bounce and poor cover defence by LSA allowed their man to follow up his own kick with a score in the corner… virtually unopposed. The frequent surrender of possession meant that centres Carl van de Walt and Gert van Deventer were needed to tackle superbly to stop the many Blackheath attacks through the LSA midfield. As the last five minutes approached LSA were camped on the Blackheath line – with the penultimate play of the match the centres combined well but just couldn’t force a second breach of the Blackheath line. In falling to an 8-5 defeat the disappointment was etched on the LSA player’s faces at the final whistle – they knew that this was a game that should never have been lost. The second half had provided LSA with a costly lesson – the failure to retain possession allowed the Blackheath No 10 to control the territorial battle with some strong tactical kicking. The LSA squad will need to use this defeat as a positive in the side’s development. It will no doubt reveal whether they have the ability to grow and learn together. Starting next Saturday at 3pm LSA will need to make sure that they have tightened up considerably from the loose areas that were there for all to see, in particular the ability to retain possession for more than two phases at a time.
Starting XV Ryan Hendrikz, Heinryk van Zyl, Aldo du Plessi, Mark Porter, Bruce McClelland, Jake Hoddinot, Ryan Williamson, William Bussell, Dan James, Arnold Spaumer, Gert van Dewenter, Carl van de Walt, Bevan Williams, Chris Kroeze, Nick de Kock. Substitutes James Saunders, Tom Henry, Justin Vinter, Noel Van Zyl, Albertus Swart, V Verster. (All subs used).
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