RAIDERS STUN MUDCRABS
A SUAVE Argentine has sliced apart the Northern Beaches Mudcrabs, helping Port Douglas Reef Raiders emerge as unlikely finals contenders in a seesawing Smithfield tussle at the weekend.
Buenos Aires backpacker Juan Dillon scored a try and had a hand in plenty as the Raiders overcame a sluggish start to run away 32-24 victors on Saturday afternoon.
Playing alongside several South American recruits, the Errol Flynn lookalike bamboozled the Crabs all day, calling set pieces in Spanish out of the ruck.
With both teams effectively winless – the Raiders were awarded a win after Cairns Wanderers forfeited earlier this month – the Crabs were keen to assert themselves early, with winger-turned-outside centre Jesse Backhouse scoring the opening try.
“I had a feeling that if we put him there, he could shine,” Crabs coach Dan Moevao said.
“He’s tall and strong but has really good speed for his size and used it to his advantage.
“I was really happy with his game.”
But the Raiders responded strongly, with wrecking ball Dylan Leahy crashing through for Port before setting up another try as the visitors entered the half with the lead.
“We stuck to our structure despite starting very slow,” Leahy said. “I’m pretty happy. As skipper I can’t express how pleasing it is to see how much we’ve improved.
Leahy said wily scrum half Dillon had proved the difference.
“He just rocked up and asked if he could play,” he said.
“He’s been a godsend. He’s just travelling through and played back home in Argentina. He’s fit in really well and is part of the family now.”
Port’s star recruit said he planned to play out the season with the Raiders after landing some work this week.
“I work in a restaurant now and I hope I can stay here for another year,” Dillon said.
“It’s a really good team, really good people. Like family.
“There’s a Chilean guy and one more Argentine.
“We said some plays in Spanish today and you could see the other forwards looking at us funny.”
With the Crabs’ Yorkeys Knob facility nearing completion, Moevao has promised his players will endure a long, hard week on the training track.
“Oh yeah,” he said. “The lights are all up at Wattle St, which is pretty good for us.
“There will definitely be a lot of fitness. It’ll be hard for a few of our boys but I’m sure they’ll be accepting of it because they want the best out of themselves.”