Cobras Demolish Lanna Rugby Club Over Three Games
Game One
COBRAS WIN STATE OF COVID OPENER
Cobras Power Ensures Easy Win
Due to on going C.Vid concerns this years NTR 10’s league was an on again off again affair before finally being cancelled when the education department stopped the university teams from contact sports.
Rather than cancel what little rugby was left the Chiang Mai Cobras & Lanna Rugby Club decided to hold a three match series with a trophy up for grabs at the end of it. It was seen as a good way to get experience into some new players and to keep the old boys engaged enough to perhaps squeeze another season out of them !
Game one was held at the Ambassador Bilingual School, home of Cobras Rugby Club on 18th September where an older, relatively new side the Cobras gathered to take on a youthful looking Lanna side who were full of energy.
From the kick off it was obvious that, though the Cobras were older, they hadn’t come to mess around and showed the Lions from the off that they were in for a long painful afternoon. That is what transpired with scrum half Most Padabyod turning the Lions defense inside out at every opportunity. Even though the Lions managed to get on the scoreboard,
Final score of Cobras 60 Lanna 5 told the story
GAME TWO
COBRAS TAKE THE STATE OF COVID SERIES
Dominant Display In Game Two Win
Game two was at the Lanna ground in San Khampheng and a crowd was gathering in the heat of day for what was hoped would be an entertaining encounter. The Cobras were expecting a stronger performance from the Lions and so it turned out.
With pace and experience the Cobras looked a well-balanced side and so it was to prove as the game wore on. The more youthful but inexperienced Lanna side struggled to contain man of the match Charlie Jones, who was dominant at the breakdown and devastating on the charge. With veterans Dave McRitchie and Simon Dickinson controlling possession up front and Rich Davis & captain Matty Valentine marshaling the backs, spaces began to appear as the Lanna defense began to tire.
P Ekdamrong (Rush) was tireless in both attack and defense and with scrum half Damion May a constant threat, finding gaps to put in the speedy Sam Morphett and Sheldon Terblanche. The Cobras took a 4 try to 1 lead in the first period and although the Lions fought back to reduce the deficit, the overall stamina and game plan from the Cobras, saw them surge away towards the end of the game.
With tries from Charlie Jones x 3, Damion May x 2, Rich Davis x 2, Sheldon Terblanche, Matty Valentine, P Ekdamrong and S Morphett the Cobras win the series with a game to spare.
Scores by Thomas Stubley x 2, Stan Ton and D’tun saw the Lions put some respectability to the scoreline after a difficult shift.
Final Score Lanna Rugby Club 20 Cobras 55
Game Three
CLEAN SWEEP FOR COBRAS
Cobras Finish With Demolition of the Lanna Rugby Club – Take Series 3-0
The Ambassador Bilingual Academy was bathed in brilliant sunshine and it was hot as the teams prepared for the final encounter in the inaugural State of Covid series, in what has been a truncated season.
Lanna won the toss and decided to kick off and it was evident from the first exchanges that the Lions were in for a tough day at the office. The more organised & experienced Cobras side immediately took the game to the Lions with Pattarapon Ekdamrong “Rush” scoring a couple of tries early on to get the scoreboard ticking over. The Cobras were playing some of their best rugby of the year, ripping open the weak Lions defence at will and with further tries from Damian May, Charlie Jones and a hattrick try for Rush, were well on top at the break.
The 2nd period saw the Lions come out roaring and two early breakaway tries by Tom Stubley and Stan Ton, saw the Lions claw their way back into the game. The Lions had become more competitive and, securing some ball, were looking threatening. The Cobras had been sucked into a forwards battle which wasn’t working and they switched back to what had worked previously, getting fast ball at the breakdown and spinning it wide. With Dave McRitchie, Charlie Jones and Simon Dickinson regaining control of the breakdown area it produced immediate returns, when debutant Julien Renaud Tremblay broke away to score his first try for the club. Ian Davidson was another debutant on the scoresheet and a second try for Dameon May, saw the Cobras back on top as the period came to a close.
The final period saw a tiring lions defense on the back foot for much of the time and with the gaps opening up, the cobras went for the jugular. Captain Matty Valentine was the first to ghost through a gap and touch down to continue his impressive form. With Richie Davis orchestrating things from fly half, it was only a matter of time before the line was again, breached. A couple of fine individual tries by Damion May, brought his tally on the day, to four. Sheldon Terblanche was a constant threat and almost scored before tripping up over his own feet with the tryline beckoning!
Julien Renaud Tremblay who had a storming man of the match debut, went in for his second before Sam Morphett closed out the scoring. The Lions went in for a consolation score towards the end, but by then they were a well beaten side.
Nils Deichert continues to develop with each game and is fast becoming a major asset to the team
Great to see both teams’ development over the three games with each game being more competitive than the last.
Final Score Cobras 65 Lions 15
Northern Thailand Rugby 