CRUSHERS FIRST HOME GAMES HELD ON WEEKEND

Photos supplied by Donna Macarone.

‍

‍

By Peter Reitano

‍

The Herbert River Crushers played their first home games of the season on Sunday hosting Western Lions. At the beginning of the A-Grade game the Crushers were sitting in 4th and the Lions in 5th position.

The Crushers were first on the boarding the 17th minute after a large cutout pass from Mitch Seri to winger Evandah Bann crossed out wide untouched. The lead was short-lived as Lions crossed for a converted try in 22nd minute with a converted try.

The Crushers hit back when fullback and captain Dylan Gaggiano passed back inside to Crushers new signing frontrower Trent Veukiso who in turn flicked the ball back to hooker Kurtis Solari who carried a couple of defenders over the line.  With Gaggiano's conversion the Crushers were up 10 - 6.

The Lions responded with a converted to be up 12 - 10 with 7 minutes to go in the first half. After a Lions restart error, the Crushers were awarded a penalty in front of the posts Gaggiano kicked the penalty to level the scores 12 all at halftime.

‍

‍

The second half was an end to end battle before Lions scored a converted try with 13 minutes to go. With just under 10 minutes to go Crushers centre Kyle Stewart stepped through to score & with Gaggiano's conversion the scores were locked at 18 all.

Lions scored a converted try with just over 3 minutes to go and then a consolation try that was converted with Lions running out winners 30 - 18.

‍

Coach Todd Cockburn said "We just put ourselves under too much pressure in the first half and with ill-discipline, penalties, 6 agains and losing 2 outside backs we just couldn't recover.  Kyle Stewart was outstanding and was clearly named Player's Player. We put ourselves in a position to win with 5 minutes to go, but unfortunately we ran out of gas".

‍

The Reserve Grade teams were at the bottom of the ladder but looking to make a surge up it with games they had played being close finishes. Western Lions had gotten up 12 - 0 before the 24th minute when front rower Matty Chiesa carried a couple of defenders over the line wide out to be down 12 - 4. Lions then scored another try to go up 18 - 4 followed by a field goal just as the halftime hooter sounded to lead 19 - 4 at halftime.

The Crushers came back hard in the second half with tries to five eighth Tremayne Priestley, winger Sam Akiba and centre Jerramaine Nean to see the score 19 - 16 with 12 minutes to go.

‍

‍

Both teams lost players to the sin bin with each finishing with 10 players. Unfortunately, the Crushers could not overcome the last 3 points & the Lions held on for the win.

Coach Matty Chiesa said "This was our first game at home with some new players not having met each other - some were still shaking hands meeting each other before the game. Everyone put in effort, but discipline with the ball was an issue. Giving away penalties on first tackles and all their possession was an issue. It was a great effort against the top 4 side and particularly only losing by 3 points. It's a tough one to swallow. They didn't score a point in the second half and we didn't kick a goal to get the win, but we scored more tries.  It makes it pretty frustrating, but we will just keep turning up and with more time together we'll be better at the back end of the season".

‍

‍

Similar to the A-Grade team the Under 19s started their game in 4th with the Lions in 5th.

Fresh from turning 17 and becoming eligible for senior rugby league, St Teresa’s product Brodie Foote took no time to stamp his authority as a strike outside back. The young centre scored three tries to help the u19s to a dominant 58-0 win over Western Lions.

‍

Other stand out performers were centre Antonio Eseli, who also scored three tries, fresh from his AGrade debut lock Fred Pearson was dominant and was supported by the ever reliable quartet of hooker Connor Matsen, centre Riley Morris, five eighth Hezzy Nona and halfback Aiden Stedman.

Coach Annan Whittington said that, "As a group the young men had set themselves a goal of using this middle part of the season (4 games) against clubs in a similar position on the ladder, to carve out some wins and set up the rest of the season.”  

‍

‍

The boys now prepare as best as they can with a disrupted week, with the St Teresa’s boys playing in the Blackhawks Schoolboy Trophy semi final on Tuesday, before the young Crushers make their way to the Burdekin for a Friday night match up.

‍

The Crushers next 6 games will be at home and their next full round will see the Crushers host the Burdekin Roosters in Ingham on Saturday, 6th June which is also Ladies Day.

‍