CRUSHERS BATTLE HARD IN TOP GRADE GAME & TRIUMPH IN RESERVE GRADE!

Crushers Reserve Grade. Photo credit: Donna Macarone

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By Peter Reitano

The Herbert River Crushers hosted Centrals Tigers in Ingham on Saturday evening. Centrals had gotten the first points on the board with 2 converted tries.  

Unfortunately, the Crushers were reduced down to 12 players with a send-off in the 30th minute. That didn’t dampen the Crushers spirit though with interchange hooker Mathias Santo barging over in the 35th minute with five eighth and captain Dylan Gaggiano’s conversion, followed by a penalty to Gaggiano just before halftime seeing the Crushers down by 4 at halftime.

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3 minutes into the second half newcomer winger Gausa Dau crossed out side to level the scores at 12 all. Centrals then cross for a converted try in the 10th minute.

Even though the Crushers tried valiantly with a number of attacking raids on the Centrals tryline, they could just not bridge the gap. It was an amazing effort by the team playing 40 minutes of the match (after a Centrals player was sin binned) with 1 less player.

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The Reserve Grade game started with a try to five-eighth Tremayne Priestley who took an intercept and ran 80 metres to score untouched. With fullback Bailey Skipper’s conversion the Crushers were up 6 nil.

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Centrals then struck back with 2 tries, one of which was converted to lead 10 – 6 at the 25th minute mark. Utility player Keith Kyle then stepped through to score, and with Skipper’s conversion the Crushers were back in the lead 12 – 10.

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Secondrower Jai Dobson then made a break down the blindside before passing back inside to centre Jerramaine Neane, who ran 40 metres to score almost untouched. With Skipper’s conversion the Crusher were up by 8 at halftime.

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After halftime, Dobson stepped through to score and take the lead to 12, before Centrals scored a converted try as Skipper kicked a penalty goal to pull ahead again. Dobson made another break down the touchline, before putting a kick back infield that Priestley regathered on the bounce and scored untouched taking the lead to 30 – 16.  

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After an all in scuffle both teams were reduced to 11 players each as Centrals scored a converted try bring the lead back 8 points. Neane then shrugged off a couple of defenders with 2 minutes to go, and with Skipper’s converson they sealed the win 36 – 22.  

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The Crushers have a big couple of weeks coming up as they play Brothers this Friday night in Ingham, with a feature of the night being a Reunion of the members of the 2006 & 2016 A-Grade Premiership winning sides.

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