The game started strong from early on. The return of Gordon Waters and Tim Morrison added a new dimension to the Redbacks pack with a scoreless first twenty minutes providing some great defence and powerful attacks from both sides.

A strong running game and some clever second phase rugby saw the Bay sneak in an easy 5 pointer but it wasn't long before Braidwood struck back. A towering Craig Coe took the ball from the top of a Redbacks lineout, 5 metres from the Bay line a rolling maul formed. The strength of the Braidwood pack pushed the Bay over allowing Tim Morrison to score with ease.

5 each moving towards half time as Braidwood's backline fired as usual. Brendan Maher at half back played a technically superb game linking well with Nick Black in his first game at fly half.

With the remainder of the first half lacking any more points our boys went to the break hopeful.

As usual the Batemans Bay the game was won and lost in the forwards. In a reversal from the first half the Bay pack rolled over the line from the back of a scrum leaving the score 10 -5 in their direction.

Not long after another was run in by the Bay, 15- 5 and hope was fading but effort certainly was not. Komatsu Lyons, playing strong and hard all game lay nearly broken but still carried on refusing to stay off. The back three Chris Bowie, Tim Moffat and Ferret were peppered constantly but cleaned up neatly each time.

Where most others would simply lay down and give up the Redbacks saw the opportunity, phase after phase, driving, pushing and cleaning out. It was pretty to watch. The excitement was unbearable when the breakthrough came, Matt Cairns from ten out dancing his way through tackles like a ballerina to score right under the posts minutes after the bell. Maher's conversion left the score 12-15, still not enough to give us a win but more than enough to shake the Bay and send our boys home with pride and dignity.

Points this week went 3 to Tim Morrison, 2 to Nick Black and 1 to Chris Bowie. Players player this week also went to a well deserving Tim Morrison.

Next week the Redbacks play Ulladulla at Ulladulla. Until then, yours in rugby,Whitey.