Miners back their U13s as they head into weekend decider

THE Charters Towers Junior Miners will throw their support behind the club’s Under-13 team this weekend as they head into the grand final in Townsville.

The U13 Miners are the only team through to the finals in what has been a different football season to the norm.

Last weekend the teams played in round nine of the shortened competition which doesn’t have a finals competition aside from the grand final games.

THE U13 Enzed Miners played their final-round game for the season at the Bill Lewis Oval against Norths Devils last Saturday.

Both teams showed good energy early and defence kept play in the middle of the field.

The coach said that as the players grew in confidence, the gaps started to open and the team’s first opportunity score came in the 10th minute through Tom Kirkwood. “With some positional changes made for this game it was a risk that paid off, we dominated possession and made the most of our opportunities scoring 12 tries in the game,” the coach said.

Archie Miller 3, Darby Linton 1, Khye Burke 1, Jesse Lavery 1, Tom Kirkwood 2, Chase Glenwright 2 and Isaiah Gaidan 2 all scored tries.

Conversions were an issue, giving the team something to improve on. Only four sailed over the crossbar, with Jesse kicking 2, Cooper Thomas 1 and Rory Barr 1.

“The most pleasing aspect of the game was the defence shown coming off our line,” the coach said.

“Keeping the opposition scoreless is as much as you can ask.

“Standouts in attack were the halves — Greg Majid, Archie, Isaiah setting plays, and having strong running forwards — Jesse, Tom, William Blennerhasset, Colby Whelan and James Allingham — making plenty of metres allowed us to play a quick game. With the final score 56-0 the Miners will take this confidence into the grand final against Brothers this weekend in Townsville.”

THE last game of the year for the Columba Catholic College U15 Miners had them front up against No.1 on the ladder, Brothers.

“Our boys started confidently with quick, clean attacks up the middle by Teshawn Jacks and Triston Lathwell,” the coach said.

“However after an early try by Darby Butler and Zacariah Mooka was disallowed, Brothers grew in confidence.

“Brothers worked hard on the Miners’ left side defence and unleashed their speed man who crossed the white line for several tries.”

The coach said halves John Kennedy and Jack Rogers controlled play well in attack, however, the consistent Brothers defence was flawless.

He said while the Miners’ structure was good in the first half, Brothers worked the players across the field from side to side and the lack of fitness opened the Charters Towers’ defence line.

“Assariah Lenoy worked hard in the middle while Darby Butler, Blake Bell and Bradley Kershaw tried their very best to defend out wide,” the coach said.

“Our efforts were rewarded with a single try scored by our captain Teshawn Jacks late in the second half.

“We wish Brothers the very best in the finals this week.”

THE Griffiths Healthsave Pharmacy U16 Miners came up against grand final-bound Brothers Blue in the last game of the year.

Players faced trying conditions and knew the fittest team was always going to come out on top.

The game started in the usual physical encounter, with the Miners’ big men of Lachy Lathwell and Kyle Pacey exchanging blows with their hard running, while lock Ben O’neill was again in the thick of the defence. The Miners coach said the Brothers brigade held firm and unforced errors from the Towers side kept the opposition on the front foot and back-to-back tries to Brothers soon followed.

“In true Miners spirit, the boys kept digging in but poor discipline and errors starved the Towers side of the footy,” he said.

“Going into the shed down 16-nil, the message was simple: we must have our fair possession of the footy and we must stop the opposition offloads if we were any chance of a comeback.

“To the boys’ credit the response was pleasing, with centre pairing of Bailey Ernst and Dorran Green rolling up their sleeves for some tough carries and Jakeb Vailalo making strong inroads — the Miners started to look like the team they are.”

The coach said the second half was taxing on both teams and neither one was willing to lay down, which meant spectators were treated to a gutsy display.

“Seth Black, Luke Rodighiero were strong in the back field and Lane Glenwright was tough in his comeback game from injury,” the coach said.

“Forwards of Bailey Bliss, Zane Ernst and Kodi Boalar were solid, and halves Blaine Woodard, Norman Prior and Corey Gulbransen led the team around well.

“Our U15 players of Darby Butler and Teshawn Jacks were outstanding for us, and Charlie Kruger and Ivor Kerr were two of our best.

“The final score was 26-4 and we wish Brothers all the best for next week.

“Although it’s disappointing to end the season on a loss, I couldn’t be happier with these young men in their attitude and the character they have shown all year.”

The coach thanked the season’s team sponsors Griffiths Healthsave Pharmacy, Lontrans Transport and Gold City Vets, without whose support the kids wouldn’t be able to play “the greatest game of all”.