The Trundle Boomers finished the 2014 Woodbridge Cup well up the table and were never going to be the easy beats when Binalong took them on at the Binalong Recreation Ground last Saturday. The Brahmans returned to Woodbridge without a trial game and that would always pose a risk to their unbeaten record over past seasons.
Warm, clear weather greeted Trundle and the day started with The Boomers opening the scoring with a converted try in the eighth minute. The lack of a trial match with a new team at Binalong didn’t take long to show. The Brahmans were disjointed and rusty, poor communication led to penalties and turnovers.
It looked like Binalong might fail in their attempt to return to Woodbridge, as Trundle kept them scoreless till just before half time.
Some brilliant ball playing by The Boomers lock made life difficult most of the day, but at least it had the effect of an urgent call-up for the local defence.
The Binalong Recreation Ground was finally blessed with two touch judges, both wired to an excellent referee, which produced a number of forward pass penalties. Binalong continued to play their flat percentage game and it cost them.
Two quick tries by Sparnon and Paton just before half time restored Binalong’s superiority, but only just, at 8-6 at the break this game was still in the balance.
The wake-up call seemed to resonate as the second half opened. Trundle was still very dominant and launched raid after raid, Brahman’s defence was now more organised and Trundle were kept from scoring.
The final score was not a true reflection of how the game was played. However Trundle only arrived with a bench of two players and this would cost them. Until the fiftieth minute the game could have been theirs.
The day was warm enough to sap even the Trundle strength, Kaden Rawlinson crossed early in the second half, but Trundle hung on. Attrition got to them in the end however, and Regan and Naughton tries probably ruined the Boomers chances of any come-back at the sixtieth minute. Ben Potts harassed Trundle all day and was man of the match.
The final tries by Bush and Donnelly spelt the end for The Boomers late in the game and they were defeated by 38-6.
Binalong prop Reuben Olah was also strong again and made good penetration, Scott Naughton came on late and was very effective.
Brahmans President, Michael Brayshaw said: “We are all absolutely thrilled with the way Binalong has started out, I could not be happier with our results, our transition was all worthwhile.”
The Jersey Girls executed a 42-12 demolition of Trundle to carry on their winning form from touch football. The girls seemed to make a relatively seamless transition into League Tag and thrashed their opponents who had not played league tag before either. But this is a very talented squad. Lisa Naughton, Bron Pollack and Jess Howard dominated throughout.
However, the junior men’s team was a new venture for the Brahmans. Binalong has never had an U18’s team before, but they acquitted themselves very well indeed last Saturday.
Grenfell opened the scoring and led at half time. The team fought back through the efforts of Captain Dylan Arabin and Harry Morris to record a 24-14 victory against a very tough opponent.
Next Saturday will test the relative strength of The Brahmans first grade side as they must take on the current Woodbridge Cup Premiers Cargo, at Cargo. The “Blue Heelers” have held the trophy for several years now and will take a lot of handling, if the Brahmans are to suffer their first competition defeat since 2011, this game must surely be it?
Pictured is Binalong stalwart James Blair scrambled over for a try under the sticks an continued to show why he is one the the best forwards in the area with his explosivness and speed. Photograph by SUSAN MELI.
