The Burdekin Roosters had two successful trial matches with the visiting Mackay Magpies on Saturday night at Rugby Park winning the A grade and drawing the Reserve Grade.
New A grade coach Steve Lansley said it was great to get a win with his team first up.
“The defence was terrific by the boys who never gave up in the tough physical encounter,” Lansley said.
The former Ignatius Park First grade coach said the team had good contact in defence, slowing the opposition down consistently.
“Magpies were a bigger side but the speed of our team in defence stopped them from getting any momentum,” the coach added.
Caption: Roosters A grade and Reserves squads took on Mackay Magpies in pre-season trials on the weekend. Photo supplied
Burdekin Roosters A grade coach Steve Lansley said the defensive pattern employed by the locals worked well for most of the game.
He thought lock forward Kali Nauque was particularly strong, with Dylan Carew having a good one off the bench.
Big forwards Blackhawk English front rower Christan Gale, Cowboy forward Jeremiah Matuate and Tate Brombal led the way, especially in attack, given good service from hooker Rhett Williams who led his team around well whilst being very safe and reliable up the middle.
Hayden Lammon was a handy input off the bench and could be in for a good year.
Lachlan Shepherd and Ethan Hagarty went well in the back row with Shep deserving of his try.
Lansley added he was impressed with his halves Joel Mason and Dylan Doak who kept the opposition guessing along with Terry Connors who came off the bench.
Connors showed how dangerous he can be by cutting the defence in scoring a neat try.
Mason was strong in defence and Doak capped off his game with a timely intercept which won the game from the resulting try.
New winger Aiden Stevens was dangerous as was the other flanker Nemia Nawave with fullback Jones Munro diffusing several skyscrapers.
“It was a good result and a good hit out but we won't get carried away,” the coach added.
Tries were scored by Isnel Makamali, Dylan Doak, Lachlan Shepherd, Terry Connors, Jeremiah Matuate, with Joel Mason converting two goals.
Both teams scored four tries each and kicked two goals with the Roosters and Magpies drawing the reserve grade 20 all.
The Roosters skipped away to lead 12 nil at quarter time and 16 - 6 at the main break.
Superior ball possession by the visitors then had the Roosters defending well whilst scrambling for points.
In that period the Magpies scored three tries to one by Masi Mills, a new player to the Roosters showing plenty of talent.
Mills had earlier converted two tries, good efforts in the strong wind at the time.
Forward Mitchell Guy was the stand out in the match with his hard running backed up by Zac Campbell, John Zaro, Caleb Noah, Masi Mills, Dominic Augostis, Beau Crowdey and the dangerous Terry Connors.
Tries were scored by Masi Mills, Caleb Noah, Beau Crowdey and Antonio Tagicaki with Masi Mills converting two goals.
This Saturday, the A grade Roosters will have a trial match with Townsville Brothers, the game played in Airlie Beach.
Contributed by Brian Carnes
