The Uni-Norths Owls almost produced a sensational upset on the weekend as they drew their Griffin Legal John I Dent Cup match with Tuggeranong Vikings 17-17 with the visitors stealing a point via a last-minute try.
Whilst there was great excitement amongst Uni-Norths players and supporters about the fixture, and the outcome that proved that Owls can mix it with the competition favourites, it was the playing return of an old boy that really got the tongues wagging.
Brumby and Wallaby prop forward Ben Alexander played his first game in returning from injury with the Owls, the club he played his Colts rugby with.
Despite not being able to turn out as frequently as he may have liked over the past few seasons, with Super Rugby and Australian commitments, Alexander holds close his link to the Owls.
“I’ve got a bit of a sore spot with the Vikings, after the Colts Grand Final in 2003 when the Vikings beat us 30-0,” Alexander said remembering the disappointment if that showdown.
“I don’t think I’ve played them since then, so I was pretty keen to get the win today. Just to let it slip at the end there was really frustrating. But there was some good effort, really good effort.”
“I consider myself die hard Owls, so it was great to come back and help wherever I could. As you get older you get a responsibility to help the younger guys come through.
“And I’m grateful, the Owls, back when I was a Colt played a huge part with me getting into the Brumbies, so I’ve always felt in debt to the club.”
For someone who is the most-capped Brumby Super Rugby player of all-time, and moving in onto 150 games at that level, you’d be forgiven for presuming that a local club match would be taken firmly in his stride but, for Alexander, there were still the old pre-match nerves.
“I was a little bit nervous, I haven’t played footy in about five or six weeks,” he said.
”You know what to expect against Vikings with Scriv (Nick Scrivener) the coach, they are always a well drilled side.
“Just because you’re well drilled doesn’t mean you’re going to win so we knew we had a chance. We pressured them, took our chances but just in that key moment in the end we weren’t good enough to close the game.”
Words: Eamon Moore / Plus500 Brumbies
