Greens go down to the studybugs

Uni - 49, Greens - 24

There's two major things you need in a game of rugby: defence and fitness. As the score indicates, defence went up to Lovedale for a long, long, long lunch and fitness sat on the sideline, eating a pie and smoking a durrie.

Still, all bar that idiot referee Charters, who was a late call up when the designated referee did a no show, the Greens were in with a great show. Down some experience due to injuries, painting, work and other fodder excuses, the Green-horns went down 12 - 0 early. Yet this was despite said Horns dominating field position and territory. The horns then came roaring back, with forwards Luisa Mason, Minah 'Rucki' Mauli and, in her debut game, Jacinta Soe beating two and three defenders every time they carried the ball, it was only a matter of time. Greens first try came when Mason made another barnstorming run, quick ball from Bobby Thomson and Kya Simon put bludging ranga Mel Sutton over in the corner.

Straight off the kick off, the Horns were at it again. Mason, Rucki and Jack tore through the Students pack and Jack Soe plunged over for a well deserved try on debut. Kya Simon kicked the goal and scores were level, and remained so till half time.

The second half started and it was all Horns. With uni defenders unable to stop the roll, there was a veritable plethora of space out wide and Emma Young brushed through some feeble tackles to score out wide. Five minutes later, with Uni down to a struggling 14 players and looking flat, Jack got her second with a 20 metre dash that was highlighted by an unspectacular dive that strangely resembled a stumble. Anyway, it was on the board and Greens led 21 - 12 over the premiers.

Sadly, the Greens didn't have the puff to go on with it and with the students maintaining far greater structure ran in try after try in the last 15. Still, there are some great signs for the Greens with the three boofheads Mason, Mauli and Soe dominant, Bobby Thomson working like a swine flu researcher at scrum half and Players Player Jerry 'Halliwell' Berrigan playing her heart out at No. 8.

Next week the Horns will bolstered by some returning old grizzled veterans and make the long bus trip up to Singleton. We apologise in advance for any offence we are about to cause.