Jersey Girl Stephanie Abra and Brahman Sam Lucas on the charge for Binalong in their matches.
With the Crookwell side having a bye last weekend and a win over Boorowa the week before, the Brahmans are now in deep peril for a top five position against the Rovers and a loss will see the Green Devils jump Binalong into fifth spot.
Nevertheless, the Jersey Girls lost their clash in May with Boorowa 16-14, would they be able to reverse the result?
But the Jersey Girls were unable to over trump the Boorowa girls to force their way up the ladder. Indeed, it was a valiant attempt and Steph Abra led the way followed by Captain Cherrae Smith. It was a bitterly cold day and the sun refused to come out.
The Jersey Girls again repeated the opening mistake in games by letting Boorowa in for a converted try in the opening minutes for the 6-0 lead. Hannah Phillis provided some attack, but the dropped ball was again a problem for the Binalong girls. Then in the 13th minute a dropped kick cost the Jersey girls another try and the Roverettes lead 10-0.
It has been a season-long problem for the Binalong girls that they are very reluctant to stand under a high ball and this cost them a Boorowa lead of 20-0 lead at half time. To be honest, the local side don’t have much to work towards as they sit near the bottom of the table.
One of the biggest problems for the Jersey Girls at Boorowa Showground was the quality of refereeing, they lost the penalty count 7-3 in a confusing decision making afternoon. The players tried their hearts out, Coco Adam and Lucy Hammond were good but they couldn’t penetrate.
To close the game out Taylor Phillis was effective and Marnie Pack came on mid game and finished with a try right on full time for Boorowa to run out 26-4 winners.
However the sun did come out briefly for the Brahmans game. But only briefly! This match between positions 4 and 5 turned out to be controversial. The Waldren Constructions Brahmans did not have Lloyd Lucas but did have his brother Sam who took the ball up strongly all day.
The Rovers were first to strike in the 7th minute for a 4-0 lead through their excellent full-back Power and he dominated the Boorowa side’s attack all day. Nevertheless, the Brahmans were equal to the task with a try to Ben Boyton in the seventeenth minute, converted by Dylan Arabin for a 6-4 lead at half time.
I have had to say this before about Arabin, he is either the villain or the champion and he was the latter on Saturday! Because the Rovers scored for the 10-6 just after half time, he seemed to re-double his efforts. Beau O’Mara was good too but Arabin led the way with Dylan Downey. Then Arabin crossed for a try himself, couldn’t convert and it was 10-10. Props Mick Spencer and Dylan Downey upped their aggression but could not break the stale-mate.
The penalties this week went more in Binalong’s favour by 4-7 which helped. The minutes close out and the tension climbed. At 10 all. Lachlan Patterson pulled every lever he could and Pete Adam tried but it seemed the game would end in a ten all draw, Pete Adam was the chosen kicker for the field goal.
Adam was too closely marked by the Rovers and Dylan Arabin was in position, directly in front and he didn’t miss, the villain no more for Binalong to win 11-10.
Binalong 11 def Boorowa 10. Tries: B.Boyton, D.Arabin. Goals: D.Arabin and 1 FG D. Arabin
bos Indicus.
