TEACHERS TOP TABLE AFTER TDRU BRUISER

TEACHERS ON TOP

TEACHERS West stand alone atop the Townsville District Rugby union standings after outlasting Brothers 17- 14 in a bruising encounter on Friday night.

Both sides went into the clash after undefeated starts to their seasons and it was the Bulldogs who kept their run alive thanks to an impressive defensive display.

Beefy front- rower Kris Nielsen earned man of the match honours in what was a top game from the Teachers pack and coach Terry Shiells was impressed with how his team ground out the result.

“It was an ugly game of footy for the whole 80 minutes but I think our blokes showed a lot of desire and enthusiasm,” he said.

“Our defence worked really well, our desire for each other was outstanding and while we were down a few front- rowers some of our younger guys came on and worked really hard.”

Teachers held a slim 10- 7 lead at the half- time break thanks to a penalty as Alex McClymont and Will Parker crossed for their respective teams in the first half.

The Bulldogs extended

‘‘ It was an ugly game of footy ... but I think our blokes showed a lot of desire and enthusiasm

TERRY SHIELLS

their advantage to six after the break with a penalty goal but momentum changed in Brothers favour and they tested Teachers goal line defence.

Some desperate defending paid off for Teachers and their hard work in defence was eventually rewarded when centre Paulino Aloisio crashed over next to the goalposts, with the conversion making it 17- 7.

Brothers made it a tense finish when Keiran Willey crossed for a try off a fivemetre scrum in the final minutes but the referee called full time after the conversion.

Burdekin were also winners this week, rallying from a 14- 0 deficit to storm home to a 25- 14 victory over North Ward Old Boys.

In other TDRU action, Ross River scored a 51- 0 win over Western Suburbs on Sat- urday night, with Joe Taina, Maciu Vatanitawake and Paul Tatow all bagging tryscoring doubles for the victors. TEACHERS WEST 17 ( Tries: A. McClymont, P. Aloisio; Cons: J. Payne 2; Pens: J Payne) def BROTHERS 14 ( Tries: W. Parker, K. Willey; Cons: J. Timbs 1, J Martinez 1) ROSS RIVER 51 ( Tries: J. Taina 2, M Vatanitawake 2, P Tatow 2, T Ma’ulu’ulu, R Seru, P Vereakula; Cons: I. Te Awa 3) def WESTERN SUBURBS 0 BURDEKIN 25 ( Tries: J. Alford, A. Searle, S Hartwell; Cons: S. Kennedy 2; Pens: S. Kennedy 2) def NORTH WARD 14 ( Tries: J. Horton, A. Rio; Cons A. Rio 2)