Rams v Pirates last Saturday
Rugby Report
Last weekend Barraba/Gwydir Rugby Club hosted their last game of the season against the strong Tamworth Pirates side. The Pirates have many more players than all the other sides in the zone so a hard day at the office was expected.
The Girl’s game was dominated by Pirates who had some very fast players on the flanks who run in a few pointers and under the posts for a full count of 7 points and they soon add up. One of the main problems was trying to tackle high and not around the legs, as you cannot run without them, and also lacking the pace to catch their speedy outside backs. The girls tried hard all game and should be pleased with their efforts during the year after loosing a couple of their key players who would have made a big difference in a few games. Well done girls.
Three of the girls played their 50th game for the club, being Amie Middlemiss, Emily and Jess Kelso. Congratulations girls. Barraba travel to Walcha this week but the girls do not have a game.
Players Player Amie Middlemiss
- Katie Fisher
- Emily Kelso
- Katie Sweeney
The Men’s game got underway with Pirates attacking the northern end of the ground. They made an early break through the backs which should have resulted in a try but Captain Robinson, playing bis 100th game for the Club, made a great saving tackle and an altercation saw a Pirates player sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.
From the ensuring play Sloan made a great run to halfway to get the local team out of trouble. Play fluctuated around the middle of the park until Pirates winger scored out wide for a 0-5 to Pirates. A further try to Pirates out wide saw the score 0-10 to the visitors, but a quick reply from a good bit of ball movement saw the slick backline in action for Mackenzie Austin to score with a conversion attempt hitting the uprights 5-10. Shortly after some toing and froing Barraba put in a long kick which saw Austin score his second try for a 10-10 score and not long before half time with Barraba applying big pressure in a scrum close to Pirates line Jesse Rogers scored for Abra to convert for a 17-10 half time lead.
The second half saw Barraba apply pressure close to the line and Crouch barged his way over for a try for a 22-10 Barraba lead after a good pass from W. Robinson. Pirates then lifted their game and after sustained pressure scored and converted for a 22-17 score line. Then Barraba had a bad lineout throw close to the line won by Pirates who made 50 metres up the field.
Barraba were guilty of kicking the ball back to the Pirates for the rest of the game and hence could not score any points as you need the ball in the hand to do so. Pirates scored the winning try after H. Spencer was given 10 minutes in the sin bin 22-27.
A good game to watch and special mention to coach Gary Walsh for the way he has improved the handling of all the players, their running and support is what the followers want to see. Next week Walcha away to secure a semi-final spot-good luck.
Player’s Player H. Preston
- A Crouch
- J. Robinson
- W. Robinson, J. Sloane
The ‘old boys’ day saw many of the old and not so old turn up for a fun day with the old bar tent in the south west corner in operation.
Some of the players spotted included P. Taber, S. McDouall, G. McDouall, T. Crowley, D. Smith, Tony Burns, S. Robinson, P. Mack, R. McDouall, P. Spencer, C. Kelly, T. Mallise, T. Groth, D. Southwell, S. Middlemiss, S. Koopman, B. Kelly, D. Kelly, L. Kelly, D. Brown, J. Mack, J. Lewis, T. Bucknell, T. Thompson, A. Spencer, N. Kelly, S. Gadd, J. McNeil, S. Crossman, A. Cabot, R. Witten, Paul Simpson, R. Hiscock, B. York, A. Anderson, P. Summerell, Banjo Robinson. There are possibly others I missed but they all had a big day and some even took part in the after game boat race. A very enjoyable day.