The Brahmans travelled to Narrabundah on Saturday to take on the Boomanulla Raiders.
The Jersey Girls opened the day’ proceedings with a very dominant performance in their 16-1 thrashing of the home side in the touch football game. For the Binalong side, Bron Pollack scored an incredible haul of 8 tries. Boomanulla didn’t seem to have any idea of how to defend against her; she continually found gaps through the middle and took full advantage of them. But, it was a very solid team effort from the girls.
In the George Tooke Shield game it was the Matty Cooke show as he scored four tries for the day. Boomanulla’s game opened badly for them as Matt Cooke, playing at full back, scored 2 tries in the first eight minutes. To add insult to injury, Ben Spencer scored in the next set.
Coach Chris Rawlinson took the kicking duties for the day and piloted the first three goals between the sticks. At 18-0 down, Boomanulla looked rattled. They fell off tackles and could not match the premier’s line speed. Shaun Davis and Scott Naughton menaced the hosts with line breaks all day.
After 17 minutes, centre Phil Sparnon made a good line break and scored. Rawlinson added the extras. Almost straight from the kick-off, prop Reuben Olah was handed the ball, took it up strongly and shook off two defenders. At the second line, Olah again took on the opposition and calmly slipped a pass out to his right.
Without much defence left, Daniel Poidevin sprinted down the right touch line, wrong footed the final opponent and scored in the right corner. It was a fitting reward for two players whose game has blossomed in 2014. This was the only goal which Rawlinson missed for the day. With only 4 minutes of the half remaining, Sparnon crossed for his second to bring up the half time score of 34 to nil. T
he mounting injury toll is now of deep concern for the Brahmans. James Blair took a heavy blow to the ribs in this match and he and Andrew Swaffield may well be both out till the finals series. Dave Brown played with a troublesome hamstring and Guy Sherrett might be back in a fortnight. Adam Waters took a severe blow to the head in the second half.
In the second stanza, Adam Waters crossed for a classic crash over try in the first minutes of play. Not 4 minutes later, Matt Cooke scored his third try. Chris Rawlinson obliged with the boot.
Boomanulla tried to fight back but turned the ball over too many times. The home side could not match Binalong’s play the ball speed but they did mount one very good piece of attack which resulted in a try to their second rower, but it had taken them 60 minutes to get on the board.
To close the game out, Shaun Davis was rewarded with a try with 4 minutes remaining and almost immediately Matt Cooke scored his fourth try. Daniel Poidevin was appointed to convert the try which he did.
The Brahmans will welcome the long weekend next week and the bye the following week and a chance to heal some injuries. Next game will be June 21st. against Yass Magpies at Binalong Rec Ground.
Binalong 58 – Tries: M.Cooke (4), P.Sparnon (2), B.Spencer, D.Poidevin, A. Waters, S.Davis, Goals: C.Rawlinson (8) D. Poidevin def. Boomanulla 6. Referee: Mr. Peter Castle.
Bos indicus.
