Well Hung Glass & Aluminium 1st Grade Wrap up
Round 16 of the Well Hung Glass and Aluminium 1st grade competition saw a top of the table clash between 1st placed Teachers West taking on 2nd placed North Ward who were on a 5-game win streak. The LARC’s looked to go back to back at Bindal Sports Grounds against JCU. The game of the round took place in Charters Towers where Brothers made the trip out to rebound from their loss a week prior against a strong Bulls side at home.
GAME 1: TEACHERS WEST VS NORTH WARD
The top of the table clash between Teachers West and North Ward was expected to be a tight match up with North Ward on a 5-game winning streak and Teachers West being unbeaten all season. However, Teachers West showed their dominance in blowing North Ward off the park. Early on in the match it was evident Teachers West were more than ready to play, capitalising off the first line out of the game by spreading the ball wide to winger Dan Chorley who picked up his first try of the match. After having early success going wide Teachers West exploited the overlap with winger Dan Chorley scoring 2 in a row to start the game. Late in the first half, a hard run from Teachers West second rower Hugh Huppatz saw him burst through the line, running 65m to score a great solo try. North Ward found themselves in great attacking position on the Teachers West line applying pressure on the Bulldogs defence. After stringing multiple phases together, some quick hand down the short side from the backs to winger Ryan Allen score North Wards first try of the match before half time. Early in the second half North Ward crept up on the Teachers West line and after stringing some phases together, some ill-discipline from Teachers West awarded North Ward a penalty try. However, Teachers West did not go away with Fullback Curtis Rayment slicing through the line on multiple occasions scoring a hat trick to finish off his outstanding performance. Outside centre Josh Lamb picked up a double as well as setting Winger Dan Chorley up for his 4th try of the match from a well-placed kick out wide. A hard-fought game from North Ward number 6 Nathan Diedrichs wasn’t enough to help his team with Teachers West running away with it 78-12.
Teachers West 78 (D Chorley 4t, C Rayment 3t, H Huppatz 1t, M Brennan 1t, J Fletcher 1t 9c)
North Ward 12 (R Allan 1t 1pt).
GAME 2: LARC’S VS JCU
With the LARC’s having an up and down season, a great win over the Burdekin in round 15 was a great confidence booster for the side. With JCU having the bye in round 14 and making a large improvement in round 14 both sides were ready to play. For the second week in a row the LARC’s showed their skills in all areas of the game and their dominance in both the back and forwards. LARC’s fullback Zac Holliday and outside centre Filipe Tagituimua both picked up a double. Second rower Sam Fremor also picked up a double. Prop Solomon Ricketts added to his season tally for tries, picking up another try, Flanker Ethan Jacobs scored one and wingers Orion De Havilland and Ben Pearson both picked up a try each out wide after having an outstanding game. With the LARC’s dominating in all aspects JCU flanker Jacob Brown was a standout, doing some great efforts around the park to help his side. But the JCU efforts were not enough with the game ending 57-7.
LARCS 57 (S Fermor 2t, F Tagituimua 2t, Z Holliday 2t, B Pearson 1t 3c, S Ricketts 1t, E Jacobs 1t, O DeHavilland 1t)
JCU 7 (J Brown 1t, 1c).
GAME 3: BROTHERS VS CHARTERS TOWERS
After both Brothers and Charters Towers had disappointing defeats in round 15, both sides were excited to rebound and get back on track and find their winning form. In front of a bumper crowd, both sides were looking for a strong display as it was the Annual John Fry Memorial clash. Early in the match Charters Towers had Brothers pinned in their 22m and as Brothers looked to exit with a kick, Charters Towers outside centre Dylan Knuth, charged the ball down and regathered it to score the first try of the game. Not long after Brothers hit back, spreading the ball wide to fullback Sam Doyle who put it on the toe for him to chase and score it himself in a awesome effort. Some relentless pressure through pick and drives by Charters Towers on the Brothers try line was the key to their second try of the game with Joey Cram crashing over the line picking up another try for the season finishing the half 17-8 to Charters. After the break the ball landed in Brothers fullback Sam Doyle’s hand again, this time no kick was needed, using his pace to beat 5 defends and score another outstanding solo try. Not long later a penalty kick from Brothers fly half Lockie Britton put Brothers back in the lead at 18-17. In the last 10 minutes of the game Charters Towers were in excellent attacking position to steal the game, but the Brilliant communication and effort in defence from Brothers, lead by number 8 Malakia Taufa and inside centre Will Gallegos, saw Brothers hold on and win a tight game 18-17.
Brothers 18 (S Doyle 2t, M Taufu 2c, D Anderson 1p)
Charters Towers 17 (J Cram 1t, D Knuth 1t, S Knuth 1c 1p).
This weekend at Mike Carney Toyota Park, Charters Towers will make the trip to town looking to rebound but will face the unbeaten Teachers West side at 4:30pm. Following Charters Towers v Teachers West is North Ward vs Brothers who are pumped after a good win away from home. The final game of the weekend will see JCU and Burdekin both travel to Ingham to play. Be sure to get down to your local games and watch our Well Hung Glass and Aluminium 1st Grade action.