On what turned out to be an appallingly cold, wet and miserable day at Trundle last Saturday, all players wore black armbands in memory of Lui Polimeni, the Gundagai Tigers junior who lost his life recently. A minute’s silence was also observed prior to the game.
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Sporting a point’s differential of plus 198 at the end of round 8 and sitting at the top of the Woodbridge Cup Ladder, Trundle played Binalong with a differential of minus 350. It was always going to produce a lop-sided result. That’s what happened with a loss of 70-12, it was something the incumbent Woodbridge Premiers would regard as the ultimate nightmare.
The Brahmans now have three players lost to injury for the season and 11 injuries for 2016 and struggle to recruit new playing staff before June 30.
A minute by minute description of the game for those readers who did not see the it would be fruitless; however the Binalong team were not disgraced by their performance. They lost Nathan Regan in the opening minutes of the game to a leg injury and they went into the game having to play mostly their juniors on their bench. Trundle Boomers only conceded an average of 10.4 points per game and it would be a tall order to keep Trundle scoreless and gain a win away from home.
Nevertheless, the Brahmans held back a withering attack by Trundle for eight long minutes from the kick-off and shortly after endured another converted try for a score line of 12-0 after 12 minutes. By the end of the first quarter, this had swelled to 22-0 until the 25th minute when Dylan Arabin came on and grabbed a try to let Hayden Bee convert for 22-6. Trundle scored again to make it 28-6 but Tommy Johnson crossed with Bee’s conversion at half time for 28-12.
A competitive score to open the second half? Not really, Trundle ran right away with the game scoring 42 unanswered points in the second half. The Boomer’s very talented second rower Brendan Sense and full back Tori Hando ran riot and Binalong could not defend against them. For repeated infringements, 5/8 Hayden Bee went to the bin for ten minutes, the captain Tom Johnson was sent off shortly after for the same offence and in 23 minutes, Trundle scored 28 points against 11 defenders.
The statistics didn’t lie in this game, Trundle concede 10.4 points a game and the Brahmans got a creditable 12 points against them but the Boomers score +25 per game and they almost tripled that last Saturday.
Not much to take away from the game on the plus side but the juniors provided huge support in Dylan Arabin who got a try and Josh Barker who tested Trundle at times. Beau O’Mara, Max Giles and for only the second time, Joe Dyball, pushed hard to keep the score line at a respectable level. These players showed everyone that Binalong still has a spine.
Drew Arabin ripped into the Boomers and Andrew Stadtmiller was back and copped some massive hits, then handed some back in defence. Tommy Johnson took the ball up and crossed the chalk before half time and he led his team around most of the match to totally frustrate a determined Trundle attack for up to 15 minutes at a time.
It was excellent defence at times but this squad just lacks that attacking flair at the edges, which some other clubs have and the Brahmans are crying out for in 2016. Coach Spencer has a tough assignment with the injury toll but there are some positives.
The Jersey Girls had a narrow victory over the Trundle Sunflowers 6-4 after being down by 4-0 at half time. The Binalong girls are focused and enthusiastic, Kayla Smith and Christy Johnson led the team around all day in dreadful conditions. New recruit, Steph Cribb injected inspiration and Em Banks backed up all match.
As usual, Jess Abnett and Sam Bailey, who broke her hand in the game, put their shoulders to the wheel and Tioni Smith and Diandra Navara were well supported by Tara McGrath-West. Sam Longmore has her team on track for a top five position on the Woodbridge ladder.
The Binalong Youth League boys scraped home with a 10-4 win after being down 4 nil at half time. The Calves had two tries disallowed in the first half but Dylan Downie and Marty Smith made amends in the second stanza to get a try each and Dylan Arabin landed a conversion.
In other results, Eugowra 36 defeated Grenfell 28, Manildra 24 defeated Cargo 20 in the local derby, Canowindra 28 defeated Condobolin 22 and Peak Hill 26 won over Burrangong 16. This leaves Trundle on top of the ladder followed by Canowindra, Cargo and Grenfell in fourth. Next week Binalong are at home to Eugowra.
Trundle 70, def Binalong 12 [Tries: T.Johnson and Dylan Arabin, Hayden Bee 2 goals] Referee P. Kelly.
bos Indicus.