The Bowraville Under-15s league team clashed with Nambucca Heads on July 24, and this time the outcome was a hard-fought win.
Last time these two teams met it resulted in a two-point win to Nambucca, but this time the end result was 20-10 Bowraville’s way.
It was amazing exhibition of hard play and good sportsmanship when these two teams meet, the standard didn’t change, nor do the faces in either team.
These two teams have been battling it out from the age of six, and the bulk of players in both sides remain unchanged; one more year in the Juniors and the boys will then be on the bigger stage, representing their respective towns.
The future of Rugby League in this valley looks strong. The game was one of not stop defence. In the early stages this was due to nervous dropped ball.
It was hard for either side to gain a try; Bowra had to defend well to keep Nambucca off the line. Nambucca had again trained specifically for their opposition – this is a testimony to the skill of Glenn Crowe in his coaching.
Glenn knew that Nambucca had to stop Bowra’s fullback, Chris Buckley. In the last game it was Chris who scored the first few tries in the first-half.
Nambucca also trained to stop the momentum of Bowra’s number 10 Jordan Sheather. With any sort of run up Jordan is hard to stop, he constantly drags four to six players in, while the opposition endeavours to bring him down.
This system of attack had some effect, however, it underestimated the growth of the Bowra team under Neville Donovan’s guidance.
The Bowra team has melded into a strong and unified squad. Neville has worked hard on building the skills and trust within the team, so, even if Chris and Jordan were quietened down there were always other players to tackle and run.
Aaron Argent and Joe McKay, both tall and lean, are hard to stop, determined in their running they simply don’t slow down all game.
Aaron disappeared early in the game but came back on with a bandage around his head – a cut to the head was not going to stop him, the bandage just made it easier for Aaron to be tracked around the field.
Both Aaron and Joe backed up for the Under-16s game that followed. Nambucca’s defence was also strong with players such as Zac Shepherd, Liam Munsie, Jake Hoban and Brodie Delavante taking a major part for Nambucca.
Keagan Crowe played well so too did Lewis Smith who took out two points in the best-and-fairest. Despite this it was Bowraville who won the first-half scoring an unanswered ten points.
Bowraville’s teamwork was strong, the boys moved up together, they tackled well and defended
brilliantly, after moving through the dropped ball period, the passing across field was excellent.
Generaled by Brad Doolan, Grady Henshaw and Anthony Walker dictated direction. The tackling of Koby Heaton, Jackson Wells was typically relentless.
Dylan Elliott and Chris Williams take the opposition by surprise, both are quiet and unassuming but neither are ever willing to give ground.
The second-half saw the scoring level pegging, with both sides scoring ten points each in this half.
Despite that the final score was 20-10, and Bowraville thoroughly deserved the win.
An excellent game to watch; any of these players, from either side, are worth tracking into the future of the game.
Of the ten games played by the Bowraville Junior teams, seven were won, interestingly the two Under-13s sides won in convincing fashion, Gold 56-22 and Black 76-8.
The Under-14s made it 64-6 against Woolgoolga.
Of these three sides a huge number go to Macksville High, so there is little wonder that on Monday, the Macksville High School Buckley Shield team defeated Farrer High 40-10.
For those who played against Farrer last year it was a lovely touch.
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