Update on the Barraba/Gwydir Rugby games
Rugby Report
The weekend of rugby started on Friday afternoon at 4pm when Barraba’s Under 16’s played a team from TAS in Armidale, at Barraba, in the rain. The school team showed the visitors they had some ability with a 31-7 victory in trying conditions. They have 3 more home games on the 3rd, 17th and 24th June and anyone who likes to watch the juniors would be advised to turn up and support the team coached by Mr Malony and Mr Davis with some help from the seniors coach Mr Walsh.
A girls 11 side also plays on the 27th May and will be up against Gunnedah and Narrabri, with each team playing 2 games with a 4pm start.
On Saturday Barraba/Gwydir were home to Quirindi in women’s and men’s games in front of one of the biggest crowds seen at the grounds in a few years. It will be interesting to compare the crowd at Bingara, when we meet Inverell, in 2 weeks’ time.
The girls’ game did not start well when Quirindi only had 10 players and wanted to play 7-a-side so they had 3 players on the bench. This changed the style of play with more ground to cover and a bigger workload which did not suit the locals who displayed good skills the week before with 10 players.
An even tussle in the 1st half saw the visitors in front 12-10 and that score stood up until minutes from full-time when Quirindi scored a runaway try and goal for a final score 10-17. An injury to Abbie Mallise did not help the local side.
Player’s Player Kaila Gillogoly
3 Jemma McDouall
2 Kaila Gillogoly
1 Hanna Mallise and Emily Kelso
The men’s game started in fine conditions after a minutes’ silence in remembrance of A J Carter, father of David and an icon of Quirindi who passed away a week ago.
Quirindi were first to score after a deep kick in behind Barraba which resulted in a line-out where Jack Robinson was given 10 minutes in the bin. From the ensuing play Quirindi’s prop barged over for a try 0-5. The game fluctuated up and down the field with Barraba noticing a stronger opposition than the last game. This will continue as the stronger clubs try and give the top players a chance to be available for the finals.
After some good lead-up work and slick passing Mackenzie Austin scored for J. Rodgers to convert for a 7-5 lead. But once again penalties mounted up against Barraba for the following infringements; entering a ruck/maul from the side, handling the ball in the same situation while off your feet and going over the ball and sealing it off. The local side missed a penalty on half-time for a 7-5 lead.
During the first half Jack McCarthy ran on for his 300th club game-well done.
After 20 minutes of play in the second half Rodgers kicked a penalty for a 10-5 lead and the final score. But again, bad discipline saw Sloane off for 10 minutes. This leave the team short and trying to cover for you. The ball handling was not as good as the previous week due to the stronger opposition. A pleasing feature was the combination of the back three in support of each other and their willingness to run the ball.
Player’s Player J. Loan
3 Jack Robinson
2 Josh Loan
1 Josh Layton
This coming weekend Barraba/Gwydir are away to Moree on 21st May.