Bulls down but not out

THE result wasn’t in his team’s favour, but Charters Towers Bulls coach Lenny Knuth was not disappointed in the efforts his players put in against last year’s premiers at the weekend.

Knuth said the Bulls Agrade team walked away from the game against Brothers with a loss of 40-10.

He said while it was not a great scoreline, it was a pleasing result after the team spent a year out of the top level of the

Townsville and District Rugby Union competition.

“From a coaching point of view, we were unsure how the game would go but there was pleasing aspects of it being back in A-grade and taking on last year’s grand finalists,” Knuth said.

“We can go a long way from there.”

The Bulls went into the game missing 18 players due to work and injuries across the Agrade and reserve teams.

Brothers wasted no time putting points on the board, running in two quick converted tries in the first 10 minutes.

“Brothers were there to play and they caught us unaware,” Knuth said.

“We knew they would have a lot of speed, they used it last year to win the grand final, and their outside centre was able to get around us twice in the first 10 minutes.”

The Bulls fought back to have the score at 14-10 at halftime, and while they held off their opposition for a good portion of the game they didn’t have the stamina to carry that through to the end. “The Bulls lost the first 10 minutes and the last 10 minutes, but we dominated during the rest of the game,” Knuth said.

“But it was enough for the scoreline to blow out at the end.”

He had praise for props Russell West and Dallas Flanagan who “steered the ship” for the side.

Second rower Toby Paynter was a makeshift centre and Karl Knuth moved to breakaway. The coach said that, together with Charlie Endres,

Karl put defence.

Joey Cram is seeking a return to form and Fraser Turner is back to his football of two years ago.

“In returning to A-grade this year we are so further advanced than we were four years ago,” the coach said.

“On our day with all of our players back we can beat them all.”

In the reserve grade the Bulls were downed by Brothers 31-3 in sloppy conditions.

Knuth said the reserves in a good effort in played on field two in Townsville, which was like a swamp after a full day’s play in wet conditions.

Two coach’s points went to new signing Ben Morris, who Knuth said played a good game in the second row. Five eighth Charlie Bennett picked up one point.

“It was a lack of training together, that little bit of disconnect at times that let Brothers, who are a big club, through,” Knuth said.

This weekend have a bye. the

Bulls