CRUSHERS DEFEAT LONGTIME RIVALS IN TOP GRADE!

Crushers Vs. Brothers in Townsville. Photo credit: Peter Reitano

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The Herbert River Crushers travelled to Townsville on Sunday to take on the long-time powerhouse rival club Brothers. Particularly, the A Grade & Reserve Grade teams have met in Grand Finals in hard-fought tussles, with the Crushers triumphing on numerous occasions.  

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The A Grade game started with the Crushers having the glut of possession in the first half before Crushers winger Junior Dau scored wide out in the seventh minute. At the 25-minute mark, lock Matty Spina carried a couple of defenders over & with five-eighth & captain Dylan Gaggiano's conversion, the Crushers were up 10-nil.  

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Brothers scored a converted try with 8 minutes to go in the first half. Gaggiano kicked a penalty goal just before halftime to give the Crushers the lead 12 - 6 at halftime.

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Nine minutes into the second half Brothers scored an unconverted try followed by a converted try with 20 minutes to go and thus lead 16 - 10. With just over 12 minutes to go Dau made a break downfield passed out to halfback Lachlan Erba who then chipped the ball back in field where several Crushers players were in support with Gaggiano reaching the ball first in a scramble with defenders to touchdown and with his conversion the Crushers were up 18 - 16.  

Soon after, a loose ball was pounced on in the Brothers ingoal by Lock Matty Spina and with Gaggiano's conversion, the Crushers were up 24 - 16. Brothers scored an unconverted try wide out with just under 5 minutes to go to leave the margin for the Crushers at a 4-point lead with time ticking down.  

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With a minute to go, Erba put up a bomb that was spilled forward by the Brothers fullback and picked up by one of their players in an offside position. With Gaggiano's conversion as the full-time hooter sounded, the Crushers had outlasted Brothers 26 - 20.  

Coach Todd Cockburn said, "It was a win built on effort and attitude. We had a really good first half and finish. After the last 2 years, having games stolen from us right at the end, this one was really special. The team only had fifteen players available, who all stood out.”    

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Matty Spina was named Player's Player. The Crushers started the scoring in the Reserve Grade game after retrieving a loose ball and camping in the Brothers half before winger Sam Akiba stepped through to score, busting his shoulder in the process.  

They then crossed again with a try to winger James Babar and with five-eighth Tremayne Priestley's conversion the Crushers were up 10 - 0. The Brothers scored just before halftime and then just after halftime to level the scores at 10 all after both teams had been reduced to 11 a side after an altercation after a tackle on a Crushers player. Priestley and frontrunner Matt Chiesa then scored tries, both of which were converted by Priestley. The Crushers were up 22 - 10.  

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Brothers came back & scored 2 more converted tries to level the scores at 22 all with 7 minutes to go. Brothers hit the lead for the first time with just under 3 minutes to go with a converted try and held on to win 28 - 22.  

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"It was a gutsy effort with a number of players not available and losing three players soon after the start of the game,” Coach Matty Chiesa said, “We didn't capitalise on their errors.  In the end, we ran out of steam with only one player left on the bench. It was disappointing having another such loss as happened in last year's finals. We are looking to build momentum to compete with the top teams.”    

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The Under 19's team had hit the front 10 - 6 before Brothers came over the top too strong to win 48 - 20. For the Crushers winger, Leonard Moses-Tabui scored a double & kicked one conversion, while fullback Evandah Bann, centre Antonio Eselli also scored tries and Hezekiah Nona also kicked one conversion.

The Crushers next play Souths in Townsville on Saturday.

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Contributed with thanks by Peter Reitano.

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