Last Saturday saw the annual Remembrance Day clashes take place at Mike Carney Toyota Park with the Townsville Brolgas taking on the LARCS in a Masters (over 35’s) game followed by an A-Grade fixture.
Townsville Brolgas Old Boys 24 DEF LARCS Old Boys 5
The Annual Remembrance Day Masters Match between the Townsville Brolgas and Army Old Boys had extra emotion on Saturday afternoon with the players not only recognising the significance of Remembrance Day but also remembering former players who are no longer with us. The inaugural Nicolls-Bourke Memorial Shield – Spirit of Mateship Award was up for grabs.
Right from the outset it was the Army who showed their intent, stringing together multiple phases off the kickoff to send Beau King crashing over in the corner for the first points of the afternoon. It didn’t take long for the Brolgas to respond with Kalolo Setiu reaping the rewards after some enterprising play down the left hand side. Both sides exchanged blows before the Brolgas scored two great counter attacking tries before the break, with Jeremy Pullen & Shawn Hague crossing the chalk. At the break, Brolga Masters lead was 19 to 5. The second half was fairly even with both sides defensive efforts ramping up. The only points for the second half went to the Brolgas with Shawn Hague crossing for his second try of the match. The try was not converted and the game ended shortly after at 24 to 5. Inaugural winner of the Nicolls Bourke Spirit of Mateship award was Steve Ballin (Ingham Cutters) from the Brolgas Masters.
Brolgas Old Boys – 24 – Tries: Kalolo Setiu 1, Jeremy Pullen 1, Shawn Hague 2. Conversions: Shane Laskey 2 DEF Army Old Boys – 5 – Tries: Beau King 1.
Townsville Brolgas 54 DEF LARCs 0
The main game of the evening kicked off at 6:30pm with the Townsville Brolgas taking on the LARCs. The LARCs side were fresh off their inter-brigade competition that had been played over the last few weeks, so they entered the contest with high expectations.
The Brolgas could not have got off to a better start with halfback Harry Willocks scoring a double inside the opening 10 minutes to give the Brolgas a mountain of momentum. With the Townsville men gaining the early assendency, the gaps started to open up with the Brolgas backline slicing through the defensive line with Dan Withers and Josh Fletcher both bagging first half tries. With a 35-0 deficit at half time, the Lavarack Army boys knew they would have to turn it on in the second half. The LARCs applied pressure early on in the first half through some adventurous attack, however, the Brolgas defence was rock solid. A mid field scrum gave the Brolgas an opportunity to score first in the second half with Josh Fletcher combining with Harry Willocks to send Willocks over for his hattrick. In standard Army fashion they never gave in, with a late charge at the Brolgas with a ten minute assault. The Brolgas stood strong, withstanding the relentless pressure to turn defence into attack, with the Brolgas going 90 metres to see Dan Withers cross for his second try of the match. Final score so the Brolgas provail convincing 54-0 winners.
Townsville Brolgas – 54 – Tries: Matt Fanning 1, Dan Withers 2, Harry Willocks 3, Josh Fletcher 1, Penalty Try. Conversions: Josh Fletcher 6. DEF LARCs – 0.
