Rugby League

Last Saturday 13 July, proved to be a challenging outing for the Burdekin Roosters as they suffered defeats across all three matches held in Townsville during Brothers Old Boys reunion day.

The afternoon commenced with a tough 30-4 loss for the ladies against Brothers, followed by the home reserves team securing a 28-16 victory over the visiting Roosters. Later in the day, amidst a large crowd, the Brothers A-grade side dominated with a resounding 34-0 win over the young Roosters.

From the outset, the more experienced Brothers A-grade team set a relentless pace, immediately taking control of the game. Despite the Roosters' valiant efforts, including a commendable defensive stand in the first quarter, penalties and a disorganised defence allowed Brothers to capitalise early.

Throughout the afternoon, the Roosters struggled against the new "six again" rule, which added to their defensive woes. Coach Steve Lansley acknowledged the team's resilience but noted their inability to convert promising opportunities into points. Despite holding Brothers to a 12-0 lead at halftime, the Roosters faced an uphill battle as Brothers extended their lead shortly after the break.

Lansley praised Rhett Williams and Jeremiah Matuatu for their standout performances in tackling and attacking respectively. English front-rower Chris Gale was also recognised for his unwavering effort.

“The boys gave it their all but on the day we were a bit off, and the more experienced Brothers team took advantage,” said Coach Lansley.

In other A-grade matchups, Charters Towers defeated Western Lions 38-12, Souths overcame Norths 24-10, and Herbert River and Centrals battled to a 22-all draw at the Sports Reserve.

In the Reserve grade matches, Roosters' coach Chris Perry commended his makeshift team for their effort in holding a formidable Brothers outfit to a 28-16 loss despite 18 players being unavailable due to various reasons. Perry highlighted the contributions of under-18 players Luca Lago, Llama Ghee, Jaki Starr, and Kane Batcheler, who stepped up after a challenging draw the previous night.

“I would personally like to thank the four under 18 players, Luca Lago, Llama Ghee, Jaki Starr and Kane Batcheler who put their hands up to play after playing a hard 16 all draw on Friday night in their own grade,” said Coach Perry.

“Luca Lago showed great form being named players player and he along with Jaki Starr crossed for tries.”

Despite shortcomings such as handling errors and missed tackles, Perry emphasised the team's determination and positive aspects of their performance. He expressed confidence in bouncing back with the return of several key players in the upcoming fixtures.

“At times we were our own worst enemy dropping balls and falling off tackles, but we will bounce back with several players returning this week,’ added Coach Perry.

Meanwhile, in other Reserve grade fixtures, Charters Towers defeated Western Lions 32-24, Souths triumphed over Norths 38-10, and Bowen prevailed over Centrals 30-18, while Herbert River had a bye.

The Hens, facing a depleted squad due to injuries and commitments, fell short against Brothers, succumbing to a 30-8 defeat after trailing 16-8 at halftime. Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Hens showed resilience throughout the match, with players like Theo Mosby Nona, Ama bin Awel, Akeilah Thiomasson, and Steph Monday putting in commendable efforts.

In other ladies' matches, Western Lions defeated Charters Towers 38-4, and Centrals dominated Herbert River with a 68-0 victory, while Norths had a bye.

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Contributed with thanks to Brian Carnes.

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