.JPG)
It was a great day for the Burdekin Roosters at Rugby Park on Saturday night in front of a very big crowd when the locals played Brothers in three grades, winning two and drawing one.
Instead of concentrating for only three quarters of the game as they have done in recent matches the, A grade put it together from go to whoa winning 28 - 4.
“I was glad to see the boys in focus for the full game and they now know what they could have done in other matches as they did in this one,” coach Steve Lansley said.
The coach thought his team had a full eighty-minute performance.
Fullback Jones Munro had an outstanding game both in defence and attack.
Brothers peppered him with a variety of kicks, but he came through with flying colours.
Munro then turned attack into defence with some long jerking runs up the paddock which yielded two good tries.
His defence was also spot on diffusing a number of try attempts.
With Rhett Williams attending his siters wedding, Kalin Nauque was moved to hooker from lock with Blackhawk Englishman Chris Gale coming in.
It took Kali back in time when he represented Fiji at two World Cups as a hooker.
He controlled play well giving his big men plenty of good ball with front rower Jeremiah Matuate a menace to the Brothers’ defence.
Second rower Lachlan Shepherd was once again one of the better players in all areas.
Terry Connors was brought in to play half with Joel Mason out and he turned on a great game.
Terry was the perfect link between forwards and backs with his defence playing above his weight and size.
The coach said the boys now know how to win and they have to put the practice into action when they play other sides, especially Souths at home this Sunday.
Jones Munro scored 2 tries with one each to Patrick Krause, Caleb Noah, Kali Nauque and Dylan Doak kicked 4 goals
In other A grade matches, Souths beat Norths 48 - 4, Charters Towers beat Western Lions 19 - 16 while Herbert River and Centrals had byes.
The two French imports playing in the reserves showed what they can do with the weather a bit cooler as they both stood out in the reserve grade 14 all draw with Brothers.
Both boys have played two matches in searing heat before Saturday night and found the drop in temperature so good they both played a full reserve grade game before sitting on the bench for A grade where they again played well.
Coach Chris Perry said his team did not play well enough to deserve the win, but they put themselves in that position with costly errors.
“Basic mistakes cost us the game ... we have to work on our fitness and those mistakes won’t come,” the coach said.
The coach named Paul Meryl as his best player and his three tries from dummy half were smart efforts.
Fellow Frenchman Wassime Mahali wasn’t far behind with his defence and hard straight running.
Perry said his two centres Kyle Ferguson and Riley Horan were two of the best players out there with forward Sem Tom doing some good runs in attack.
Paul Meryl scored three tries with John Zaro kicking a goal.
In other reserve matches Souths beat Norths 34 - 12, Western Lions beat Charters Towers 14 - 8, Centrals gave Bowen their first loss 32 - 12 with Herbert River on a bye.
With coach Anita Hagarty walking the Kokoda Trail, Ricky Dallachy took over the coaching of the Hens team and they made Anita’s trek a little easier by running out commanding winners 40 - 10.
Ricky told his team to take it up the centre a couple of times and then send it wide as often as possible and run the bigger Brothers girls off their feet.
They did that with five of the eight tries coming from out wide.
The halves Soliel Heron and Toni Daisy controlled the play well with Soliel being players player.
Teah Lee Monday, Abby King and Theo Mosby Nona were dangerous up front making ground with Anna Mila Bin Awel showing plenty of promise.
Out wide, Jo Morgan was on fire with two tries while Martina Monday and Toni Daisy cut holes in the defence.
Logan Roncato was another stand out and it was great to see Tegan Johnson pick up a four pointer.
Jo Morgan scored two tries with Theo Mosby Nona while Martina Monday, Toni Daisy, Teah Lee Monday and Tegan Johnson scored tries with Soliel Heron kicking four goals.
In the other Ladies match Western Lions beat Charters Towers 52 - 4 while Norths, Centrals and Herbert River had byes.
This Sunday, the A grade side meets Souths at Rugby Park with the reserves playing Bowen also in Ayr.
Teams had not been selected at time of writing but Rhett Williams, Joel Mason and Nemia Nawave should all be back for A grade.
The Hens have a bye this week.
Norths will play Centrals, Brothers meet Charters Towers and Herbert River host Western Lions.
Contributed by Brian Carnes
