We have seen it before! It’s not uncommon in an 80 minute game of rugby (or League) for the whole momentum to change on a ‘dime’. One team can be up, dominating the opposition, spending the majority of the game in their half. Then bang! It only takes one major tackle by the team on defence that can change the course of a game. Such is the impact of that one defensive move that it can turn the momentum of the game completely around. So both physically and mentally, the control of the game is taken from the attacking team, unless they respond in equal measure.
Last week at Highlands Motorsport Park in Cromwell at the opening of the 2019 Castrol Toyota Racing Series in the Dorothy Smith Memorial Trophy race rookie Liam Lawson made an astounding pass on fellow Kiwi and seasoned TRS driver Marcus Armstong. It was a risky move, one that some would not take so early in the season. It was one that could well have ended in tears for both drivers.
This was Lawson’s second major move of the weekend, having in the first race of the series executed a start that catapulted him into the lead that he held until the chequered flag.
In the third and final race Austrian Lucas Auer was leading both Armstrong and Lawson on a damp track, all three on wet weather tyres. Lawson was all over the back of Armstrong and put his car on the outside heading into the start/finish straight. He had the grip and Armstrong, to his credit, didn’t squeeze him into the pit wall. Both headed to the Bus-stop chicane with Lawson slightly ahead and unrelentingly holding his position to which Armstrong lifted and backed off. It was game-set and match to Lawson. He soon reeled in Auer and took the lead, winning his second race of the weekend.
We will remember that pass for a very long time. So will Marcus Armstrong. No doubt that would not have been good for his mental game-plan. It is his third season in TRS and he just got beaten by a younger rookie.
However, like that resounding tackle that turns the whole momentum of a game, Armstrong can bounce back. That may be a early test of his character and maybe his talent. He doesn’t need to do the same manoeuvre . He doesn’t need to take unnecessary risks. He just needs to keep to his game-plan, race hard and finish ahead and get results.
He is not the first driver to find himself in this situation.
Comments