All Stars Edge A Thriller - Chiang Mai Citylife

By Citylife | Tue 17 Sep 2024

Lanna Go Down At The Death

Once again, the Amora Hotels & Resorts CNX Dimbulla Rugby 11s league’s luck held out with the weather, as a break in the recent monsoon saw perfect pitch conditions for the round 3 encounters, between CMU Purple Blacks & the CNX Cobras & CM All Stars v Lanna Rugby Club.

The first game saw the CNX Cobras, coming off a tough win against Lanna Rugby Club the previous week taking on the youthful but inexperienced CMU Purple Blacks side. The battle-hardened Cobras team came out firing and from the kick off Captain Jack McPherson regained possession, threw the dummy and strolled in under the posts for a converted try. That set the tone for the rest of the match. Further tries by John Brown, Jono Nunn, Natipong Parn Kumporn and a double for Tor Khatcha, put the game out of sight by the end of the first quarter. The CMU guys fought valiantly to the end but the more experienced Cobras team, were in no mood to make any mistakes. Tries by Phakaphol “Kong” Numboonjit, Pudis Sangsuwan, Jono & Parn further stamped Cobras authority on the game. With Rory McLaughlin, Borwornpak “Pop” Boonrueng & Sophan Thinomtham getting a double, they closed out the game to reinforce their position on top of the ladder.

The second match was a must win for both the All Stars & lanna. With both teams having lost a game, the loser of this game would be fighting an uphill battle to make the final on November 2^nd. Defending champions, the All Stars came out with a determined attitude, but were put under pressure early on in their own half. A clearing kick by Nor Zasi, who got the bounce of the ball to regather, set up an all stars attack in the 22. A penalty at the breakdown by lanna gave All Stars the opportunity for the big pack to attack from the lineout. After a couple of goes at the line had stretched the lanna defence, the ball went wide for centre Punlop to dance through to score. The kick was missed. Lanna hit straight back from the kick off when a knock on gave them the opportunity to put Mark under the posts from a scrum. With defence dominating the rest of the period it was 7-5 Lanna at the break.

The second quarter continued much the same as the first. All stars were dominating possession as their big forwards got the momentum. A Lanna penalty in the 22 gave the all stars the chance to set up a line out drive and when the ball went wide to Chaitawat, he slipped two tackles to score. He converted his own try to give All Stars the edge 12-7. Again, the All Stars were asleep at the kick off and after not being able to control the loose ball, Jamie Pell took possession and ran through a defence is disarray to bring Lanna back level after the kick was missed, 12 all. With no further score it stayed that way at half time.

With both teams tiring in the third quarter, mistakes started to creep into the game. A penalty in the Lanna 22, set the All Stars up for the forwards to rumble up towards the line. With solid defence holding up the drive, the ball went out to the backs, and though it appeared that the All-Star player had got the ball down, they were awarded a penalty try for collapsing the maul, and Lanna player Shelton, was yellow carded. 19-12 All Stars. In the ascendancy, the All Stars were again soon on the board when No 6, Bright burrowed over after a 5 metre penalty went blind side, flat footing the Lanna defense. With the kick missing the All Stars had a slight advantage 24-12. Indecision from the kick off allowed Jamie Pell to again rob the ball and stroll in unopposed for a soft try which again set the All Stars back. 24-19 All Stars.

That Lanna score right at the end of the third quarter, had them fired up and going for the win. Shelton did a cleaver chip over the top, and but for the bounce of the ball would have surely scored. Instead, it was a slight knock on to relieve the pressure. From the scrum five, the All Stars ran from their own line and would have scored the try of the season had the winger not put a foot in touch. Both sides were looking for the decisive score. From a scrum centre field Jamie pells illusive running again opened up an opportunity, with the wing chipping ahead, Mike kicked ahead and won the race to touch down. 24 all going into the final couple of minutes. With the clock ticking down the All-Star forwards took it upon themselves and after numerous pick and drives, finally found the gap in a tired Lanna defence, to go in under the posts. A fitting end as the win was built on some big forward play. All Stars 31-24 winners in a cracking match that could have gone either way.

The All Stars are in second place on the ladder and Lanna will have it all to do going into the reverse fixtures, if they are to make the final.