COOL-IN-A-CRISIS Oscar Okurds kicked Wyndham City to the top of the Victorian Rugby Union second division ladder for the first time in 2012.
Okurds landed two late penalty goals to sew up the Rhinos’ thrilling 23-22 win over Eltham in tough conditions at Mossfiel Reserve on Saturday.
Click on the image below for our gallery of the big game.
Rhinos coaching director Darren Taylor told the Weekly his side came out after the week’s rest a bit sluggish and were lucky it did not cost victory.
“Having the week off sort of mucked up the structure side of it all,” he said.
“We know we can play better than what we dished out there. It was only those two penalty goals that got us over the line. He kept us in the game with his boot.”
Rhinos loose forwards Tevita Talau and Conrad Meredith were the most damaging players on the park.
Where there was a gap, they would prise it open. When a tackle had to be made, they would muscle up.
“They worked hard for us around the field, making good runs, tackling and running to the gaps,” Taylor said.
“They were creating things for other players to hitch on and keep it going forward.”
In a game bereft of scintillating play from the backs, the Rhinos had to bide their time and play the territory game.
The lineouts were important for them in both a defensive sense and a having a chance to capitalise on their own metres gained.
Taylor says the lineout combination of thrower Joe Perese and jumper Andre Petaia has become a huge asset for his side.
“We put a fair bit of time into it because it’s so important. When the other team has got the ball, it’s the only way for us to be able to jump up in the air to have a go for it.
“We constantly go over it, week in and week out and it’s getting better.”
After stealing top spot from Northern, the Rhinos face a fresh challenge: keeping it for the last five weeks of the home and away season. They are eager to take the No.1 billing into the finals due to the double chance attached.
“The next three weeks are going to be important for us,” Taylor said, pointing to finals-type games against Melbourne, Geelong and Northern.
“We’re sitting on top of the table by one point, but it’s a tight race, anyone can win it on their day. Being on top, the hardest part is staying there, and we’ve got to stay there for five weeks now.”
