Crab’s double duty Coach’s cameo not enough to stop Sharks
FORMER Cairns Wanderers captain Angus Warnock made an impressive Brothers debut despite the Brethren going down to a blisteringly hot JCU Mariners at Stan Williams Park at the weekend.
The Mariners put on four tries in the opening 13 minutes NORTHERN Beaches Mudcrabs mentor Dan Moevao unleashed his inner teenager but it wasn’t enough as the injuryravaged Crabs were devoured by a hungry Penrhyn Sharks 47-30 in Port Douglas at the weekend.
Moevao played in the reserve-grade game before backing up in the second match, with the Crabs missing leading try scorer Joey Drahm and representative stars Brandon Maskell and Bevan Reynolds due to injury. of the match en route to a convincing 37-7 win.
Coach Sven Schaefer said his side was picked apart early before adding he was pleased with his newest recruit.
“Gussy had a storming game,” Schaefer said yesterday.
“The combination between him and Peter Taylor is outstanding. To have two players
The first-year coach, who recently turned 44, said the surprise cameo appearance was unlikely to happen again.
“I’m feeling sore, that’s for sure,” Moevao said yesterday.
“I think I’ll feel worse in a few days. But I’ll always put my hand up to help out our reserve grade.
“Sometimes that inner 19year-old takes over and then you get tackled and hit the ground and you realise you’re of that calibre working together will be fantastic in weeks to come.”
The Brethren will welcome fellow Wanderers stars Sam Pavlich and Marcus Johnston next week for their clash against ladder-leaders BarronTrinity Bulls at home after the storied FNQ Rugby club pulled out of the first-grade definitely not 19 anymore.”
Co-captain Cameron Scott said his coach put in a solid performance both in attack and defence.
“He had a pretty good run and scored a try,” Scott said. “He always goes hard, Dan.”
Despite conceding more than 45 points for the third consecutive game, Scott said the Crabs defence had improved.
“They were very well drilled competition earlier this month.
“Sam sat out due to an ankle injury that he’s been managing for a few weeks and Marcus has just joined and had a couple of niggles as well,” Schaefer said.
Having seen them up close, Schaefer hailed Mariners as the best team in the competition after Bulls. and ran some really good set plays against us,” he said.
“Their ball movement was really good, it meant they were passing a lot and kept us on our toes.
“They just exposed us on a couple of broken plays.
“It came down to a few individual acts from Penrhyn in the end. Rob Lyons’ defence was awesome. He did all the gritty stuff that you need to do against a hard, physical side.”
“It’s funny,” he said. “You know exactly what they are going to do to you but it doesn’t necessarily mean you can stop it.
“They’re so well coached. Their backline identifies space and attacks it with pace, then they swing the ball wide.”
Mariners have the bye next weekend.
The Crabs expect Maskell and Drahm to return next week while Reynolds looks set to miss at least a month with an ankle injury.
In the other match, Southside Crusaders were too strong for Port Douglas Reef Raiders, prevailing 50-22.
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TEENAGE cricket sensation Sandeep Lamichhane said there was more talent waiting to be discovered in Nepal after an impressive Indian Premier League debut. Lamichhane, aged 17 and the first Nepalese player to land an IPL contract, took one wicket for 25 from his four overs opening the attack with his leg spin for Delhi Daredevils against Royal Challengers Bangalore. He said after Saturday’s match that his journey had just begun. “I think these kind of leagues can help you grow your game. You have to stay busy with cricket all the time,” Lamichhane said. “I am playing for Nevis Patriots (in the Caribbean Premier League) this year. “The journey has started and there are lots of opportunities for players in Nepal.”
Nunes’ toughest fight
AMANDA Nunes of Brazil beat American Raquel Pennington yesterday to defend her UFC bantamweight title for the third time. The heavily favoured Brazilian won by technical knockout in the fifth round in front of her home fans in Rio de Janeiro. Nunes said winning against her friend Pennington was the hardest challenge she had had to face in her career. “I respect this woman so much,” the Brazilian said with tears in her eyes after her victory. “This was the hardest thing I did in my career. I had to do it to defend this belt, defend my biggest dream. “We will have some beers as friends later tonight.” Pennington hadn’t fought since November 2016 because of injuries.