Sports stars shine of region’s fields and greens
BOWLS
Gold City Bowls Club
There was a good roll-up to both Sunday and Tuesday bowls competitions this week.
On Sunday Errol Shuttleworth and Ian Barrett had a win against Mary Mccormack and Bill Bowen on rink one. The final score was 18-15.
On rink two, Tina Barrett, Verdie Truscott and Pam Norton played a 3:4 game against Bev Davis, Harry Bartlett, Bob Wine and Grace Gleeson. The final score saw Barrett, Truscott and Norton win 25-8.
Ken Peace and Daniel Dunn played a pairs game against Dan Speer and Pop Gardner, the former pair winning 33-11.
At Tuesday’s competition, Jack Scholes, Harry Bartlett and Mary Donaldson played on rink two against Mary McCormack, Ken Cowan and Pam Norton. Scholes’ team won 27-13.
On rink four, Bev Davis, Rhonda Richards, Verdie Truscott and Ian Barrett had a narrow victory over Deb Perry, Denis Donaldson, Ken Peace and Robyn Seibold. The final score of that game was a close 19-18.
Good bowling everyone.
RUGBY LEAGUE
Charters Towers Miners
The Griffith Pharmacy Healthsave Under 16 Miners started their second home game of the year with some intense defence, forcing Centrals Gold to kick out on the full.
From the ensuing scrum the Miners worked to the middle of the field for a beautifully run set play, with a barnstorming Bailey Ernst finishing off the movement by scoring out wide.
With the Miners scoring early, some complacency set in and errors crept back in to the Miners’ game but Centrals are a side that can score points if you give them opportunity and a soft dummy-half try was let in.
This was followed by a controversial deflection off the referee gifting Centrals a try which gave the visitors a spring in their step.
It took a powerful charge off a tap from big frontrower Lachy Lathwell to force his way over the line and to get the Towers boys back into the game, but a fleet-footed Centrals player crossed over just before halftime adding to our team’s troubles.
The mood at halftime was positive and enthusiastic, I felt we were more than capable of winning the game as long as we respected the ball.
Our power game was going to be crucial if we were going to make a resurgence.
Ernst’s scoots were picking up great metres and middle men of Kodi Boalar, Kyle Pacey and Jakeb Vailalo followed suit by laying the platform so we could attack their edges.
With Centrals on the back foot, back rower Bailey Bliss split the defence and ran in a try untouched. Crafty hooker Charlie Kruger wasn’t missing out either.
Off some power running from our big men, Charlie was able to beat a defender and grab a four-pointer.
With the Miners finding their groove, the outside backs Lane Glenwright and Harley Flanagan started to find some room and Bliss had another strong run to cross over next to the post, which closed the game out 28-22 in the Miners’ favour.
Flanagan was one of the Miners’ best. With his speed from fullback he is creating opportunity as he straightens up our attack. He also had his kicking boots on, slotting four from five conversions.
Prop Pacey was a powerhouse with his post-contact metres in the middle but his kicking licence has been revoked after missing a sitter in front of the posts.
Liam Brown has continued his good form with yet another consistent effort and Boalar is going from strength to strength.
In a tough display, centre Dorran Green battled through with a sternum injury and live wire hooker Blaine Woodard copped a painful accidental knee to his nose.
Toby Turnbull came up with the tackle of the game with a genuine try saver.
I think being four games into the season the boys now fully realise the quality of our opposition and there are no easy games in this competition and we must play our best footy if we are going to compete.
I feel that we are now starting to gel as a team and the camaraderie was obvious by the way the boys stood tall for each other when things got tough.
This weekend we are back to Townsville against a very strong Brothers Blue.
RUGBY UNION
Charters Towers Bulls
The Milray Contracting Under 18 Bulls played Brothers in Townsville on Saturday.
The match conditions were less than ideal as brought a lot of heat.
This warm weather at Ignatius Park made it exceedingly difficult for the players to keep their focus.
The game started with Brothers scoring a try early in the game. Brothers dominated from the start by keeping the game in our half. Our players seemed tired and lacked focus.
As a result, the Bulls had to defend most of the first half of the game.
Albie Luke and Luke Loudon contributed throughout the game, showcasing their skill and high work rates.
Harry Titley and Loudon dominated many rucks by retrieving the ball quickly.
The Bulls’ tries were spread throughout the match.
Loudon managed to score the first try for the Bulls in the first half and we felt we were within reach of Brothers.
Unfortunately the last 30 seconds of the first half ended with Michael Meteyard receiving a yellow card so the halftime talk was on the focus needed and effort required from all boys.
Halftime score was 14-7 in the home side’s favour.
During the first line out, Brandon Finger threw brilliantly to his receiving lock. But the remaining line outs throughout the rest of the second half were not used as opportunities to maintain possession of the ball.
A constant display of bad discipline from the Brothers team was displayed throughout the second half and 10 minutes into play a yellow card the sun was issued to one of the Brothers’ players for a shoulder charge just as Meteyard returned to the field.
Taking this opportunity, the Bulls managed two tries; one by Titley and another by Josh Kumung.
Matt Mckellar made sure that all three tries from his team were converted.
As the Bulls commenced another attack, Brothers were able to intercept a pass and scored in the final minutes.
Despite getting close, the Bulls remained one try behind and the timer beat any chance they had to remedy the situation leaving the final score at 26-21 to Brothers.
Although it was a good game overall the Bulls’ backline was not able to maximise their defence by moving up to Brothers’, but rather waited for the attackers to move to them and the unfortunate handling errors lead to the other team using those opportunities to score easily.
The Bulls showed enthusiasm and their contribution to the team effort is appreciated.
The Bulls left the field down at heart but injury free and with a renewed vigour for our home games this weekend.
Referee’s points went to Albie Luke (3), Luke Loudon (2) and Brandon Finger (1). Coach’s points were awarded to Albie Luke (3), Camden Finger (2) and Clinton Bridges (1).
>>More Charters Towers league and union results: townsvillebulletin.com.au/ news/townsville/ regional/charters-towers