In beautiful conditions and in front of a very large Warialda crowd Gwydir League took on the Moree Boomerangs in 3 grades.
Starting with League Tag and in warm conditions the Gwydir girls took on a very talented Moree Boomerangs. The game started at a frantic pace but unfortunately the Moree girls were a bit too classy and ran out to an 18 nil lead.
It wasn’t until the 20th minute before Gwydir scored through Kearni Churchland. The conversion was unsuccessful leaving the score 18 to 4 at the break.
The second half was only a few minutes old when Warialda’s Alicia Bussell went over but unfortunately she now plays for Moree. Another try to the Boomerangs saw the final 28 to 4.
2 points from the referee went to Lizzy Gordon. Players’ player was Lucinda Moore, with 3 points to Lucinda, 2 points to Tiarna Molloy and 1 point to Kiarni Churchland.
The Reserves grade came out with all guns blazing. Gwydir took the initiative with Captain/Coach Mick Wade diving over and George McClymont doing the same.
Suddenly it was 12 nil after Rocky Hall converted both tries. Graham Rampling then charged over with his first touch of the ball for the club making the score 16 – 0.
Boomies hit back with a great try to Jason Saunders and then Jayden Cook went over. The game had turned completely around and at half time the score was 16 -12.
The Boomerangs came out to play in the second half even though it took them 15 minutes they scored two great tries. Fortunately Rampling took it upon himself to run out wide and score again and with Hall’s conversion it was 22 – 20. The game became very tense and both teams did some good stuff and both did some stupid stuff but it was Rocky Hall who score out wide and a little later kicked a penalty to make the final score 28 -20 to the Gwydir team.
Captain/Coach Mick Wade has put together a very good football team and with a lot of work and a bit of luck could really give this competition a real shake. Rocky Hall was awarded with 3 Club points, along with Andrew McClymont (2) and Mick Wade (1).
The A Grade started with everything going right for the locals with 40/20 possession but unfortunately the evergreen Boomerang’s centre Craig McKenzie intercepted and ran 90 metres to score.
Not to be outdone Harold Duncan did exactly the same thing for Gwydir and then Mitchell Porter ran off a great David McGrady pass to go in under the posts.
Good attack and good defence were the order of the day and the tries kept coming first to Matt Marshall for Boomies and then to Duncan again for Gwydir and then David McGrady did the same for the locals. A late try to the visitors made it 22 all at the break.
Gwydir came out flat in the second half and the Boomies looked to take advantage but the only points they put on was a penalty. As Gwydir settled, Ashley Churchland went in out wide. Unfortunately if one team scored the other did the same. Mundurra Weldon for the visitors then Porter for the home team then Dion Dahlstrom for the visitors. The game was like a yo-yo being 32 all with 12 minutes to go.
When you think you might have a chance of winning, players do some absolutely ridiculous things and give away a couple of stupid penalties. This happened to Gwydir and Jerome Hammond picked up his second and with a few minutes left Brendon Johnson finished it off to make it 32 – 40.
Best were Mick Hodges, Ben Kennedy, Brendan Critchlow and Casey Bowman in the forwards while Mitch Porter, Ted Cleal, Ashley Churchland were the pick of the backs. Club points to Brendan Critchlow (3), Mitchell Porter (2) and Casey Bowman (1). Players’ Player was Adam Rodilossi.
Although the A grade lost this was a great afternoon of entertainment played in front of a very large and enthusiastic crowd.
Senior league returns to Gwydir Oval on Saturday when Armidale visit with three grades. Following Gwydir’s good performances last Saturday, the Club is confident of a bold showing against the greens in all grades.
In first grade, both teams are hoping to qualify for a semi final spot, while in the reserves Gwydir is likely to finish second and intend to show that their win last Saturday over front runners Moree Boomerangs, was no fluke. The league tag girls will miss the semi finals, but they have showed tremendous courage and certainly have the ability to provide an upset Armidale.
