The West Sydney Pirates Division 1 team tasted Playoff success against the Northwestern Predators, but it was not without its drama.
The Pirates outlasted a spirited Predators team to win by 47-41 and move on to the 2015 Championship game.
The game was a topsy-turvy affair with the lead changing hands multiple times but it was the Pirates who managed to have the final say and hang on for a nail-biting win.
The 2015 Waratah Bowl awaits!
The West Sydney Pirates Colts took a step closer to the 2015 Championship Game after an impressive win in the opening round of the Playoffs against UTS Gridiron.
Down 8-0 to UTS at the halftime break, the Pirates delivered in the second half and dominated the game to win by 24-8.
The Pirates now move on to the second round of the Playoffs where they take on reigning Champions, the Sutherland Seahawks.
The Pirates took on Wollongong in Week 11 of the 2015 season and it was two wins but for very different reasons.
The Pirates Colts won on a forfeit when the Wollongong Brumbies were unable to field a team.
The Pirates Division 1 team defeated a gutsy Wollongong Mustangs team by 60-18. The score is not a true reflection of the game though as the Pirates only showed flashes of what they are capable of achieving.
It was overcast but mainly dry conditions for the Week 9 clash between the Pirates and the Northern Sydney Rebels. The Pirates were missing a large number of players due to injury and knew that they would be in for a tough game.
The Rebels opened the game with the clear intent of running the ball to control the clock and keep the ball out of the Pirates’ possession, and in the First Half it certainly worked with both teams locked at 0-0 at the halftime break.
The momentum certainly shifted in the Second Half though due to some adjustments at the break and the increased tempo and energy displayed by the Pirates.
The final score saw the Pirates run away winners by 36-6.
The Pirates now have a Bye week which has come at the right time. The team is hurting and the roster is dwindling, so the break will allow the team to recharge the batteries and get a little healthier in the lead up to the Playoffs.
It was a mixed day for the West Sydney Pirates in Week 8 of the GNSW 2015 competition games played at the Pennant Hills Hockey Centre.
The Pirates’ Colts started the day and fought hard throughout but fell to the North Western Panthers by a score of 10-6.
In the final game of the day the Pirates’ Division 1 team faced an equally tough challenge against a very determined North Western Predators team.
The Predators got on top early and had much better field position and momentum in the first half, but the Pirates got on track in the second half and ran out winners by 28-12.
The Pirates recorded another big win in Week 7 of the 2015 GNSW Division 1 season, but the 52-15 win over the Central Coast Sharks was not without its challenges.
The Sharks opened the scoring on the Pirates’ first Offensive play when they recovered a fumble and returned it into the end zone for a score and a 6-0 lead. The Pirates eventually overcame their slow start to mount a long scoring drive which tied the scores 6-6 at the end of the 1st Quarter.
Two more unconverted TDs in the 2nd Quarter compared to a Sharks Field Goal as time in the half expired had the Pirates ahead by 18-9 at the break but the spirited Sharks team refused to surrender and played hard throughout the half.
That was to be the story of the Second Half too as the Pirates added some scores but the plucky Sharks simply refused to go away. The Pirates added 20 points in the 3rd Quarter to stretch their lead to 38-9.
The final period again saw some quality football played by both teams but it was the Pirates who maintained their edge adding another 14 points to the Sharks 6, which rounded out the 52-15 score line.
Overall it was a pleasing effort by the Pirates who were looking to grab a stronger hold on a Playoff position. There are still things to work on but another big win – the third in a row – was a satisfying result.
The Pirates Colts and Division 1 teams both recorded big wins against their respective opponents in Week 6 of the 2015 season.
The Colts started proceedings with an impressive 54-12 win over the Wollongong Brumbies.
The win was the Colts second consecutive win and a real breakout performance, particularly by the Offense.
The Pirates’ Colts are now sitting third on the Standings as they move onto their Week 7 Bye.
Not to be outdone, the Division 1 team recorded back-to-back shutouts with a 60-0 win over the Newcastle Cobras.
Like their younger Club-mates the Division 1 team are also sitting third on the Standings.
In Week 7 the Pirates Division 1 team takes on the Central Coast Sharks.
It was a great day for Pirate football as both the Colts and Division 1 teams toppled their respective opponents from UTS and ended their undefeated runs.
The momentum was started by the Colts team who came into their game still searching for their first win. The signs were there as the young Pirates had been improving each week and it all came together against the more fancied UTS Colts who boasted a larger, more experienced squad.
Without doubt the real highlight, amongst many, was the spirited goal-line stand as the clock wound down. With the Pirates holding a slender 8-6 lead UTS had at least two sets of Downs to score and win the game but the young Pirates were not to be denied and held firm to preserve their first win of the season. Congratulation to all the players and coaches on an exciting and inspiring win!
The Pirates’ Division 1 team had challenges of their own against their traditionally tough rivals.
The game started slowly for both teams with no scores in the 1st Quarter but the Pirates got onto the scoreboard twice in the second period, and converted both TDs, to take a 16-0 lead into the half-time break.
A very quick 3rd Quarter with no addition to the score was followed by another two Pirate TDs in the final period to round out the 30-0 score line.
The Pirates played a methodical, well balanced game and the result was well deserved.
All in all it was a successful Week 5 for the Club but the focus now shifts to the work required to maintain and build on that success for the weeks ahead.
It was fitting that the Week 4 game between the Pirates and the Sydney University Lions was played at the University grounds as the Lions really took the Pirates to school with a 52-14 drubbing.
The Lions were simply dominant in every facet of the game, and although there were a few bright spots for the Pirates it would seem that the gap between the two teams has widened rather than narrowed based on this performance.
If this game was to be a “learning process” we learned that the Lions are the benchmark once again in 2015, and we also learned that the Pirates have a lot of work ahead of them if they are to make their mark in the season.
There’s a long way to go and there’s no doubt that the Pirates will already be working on the areas that they need to improve on in the weeks ahead.
The Pirates’ Division 1 team made it two wins in a row with a 48-7 victory over the Nepean Ducks in Week 3 of the 2015 season.
The Pirates scored from their first touch of the ball but that was to be the only points in the opening period with the Pirates taking a 6-0 lead. Two converted Touchdowns in the 2nd Quarter saw the Pirates leading 22-0 at the halftime break. Another sluggish passage of play with only a single score in the 3rd Quarter had the Pirates leading 28-0 heading into the final period. Then scoring opened up again in the final quarter with three Pirate TDs and a Ducks’ converted score of their own to round out the game at 48-7.
Despite the score it was a frustrating game with the Pirates showing flashes of great play coupled with missed assignments and penalties. A 2-0 start to the season is pleasing but there is work to be done as the games ahead will be tough outings.