The opening round of the Rugby League Townsville and District (RLTD) season was played last weekend after being postponed due to wet weather. Those games will now be played in July.
In A-grade, Western Lions started strong, defeating last year’s grand final opponents 52–0. Herbert River also impressed, beating Centrals 18–10 on Sunday.
At Jack Manski Oval, Brothers overpowered the Burdekin Roosters 40–10, although the match was closer than the score suggests. Norths and Charters Towers had byes.
Brothers dominated early, taking full advantage of penalties and Roosters' mistakes to race to a 30–0 halftime lead. However, the Roosters regrouped and matched Brothers in the second half, with both teams scoring 10 points each.
Roosters coach Steve Lansley said the limited preparation due to rain made it a tough start but expected improvement as conditions dry out. He praised Jesse Yallop’s strong all-round game and Logan Dickson’s standout performance, including a brilliant try.
Halves Jye Olsen and Hayde Munro impressed, steering the team well, while hookers Colby Thompson and Josh Hunt added spark around the ruck. PNG international Aiden Arisa showed promise and will be a danger once fully fit.
Caleb Noah made plenty of metres with his powerful running, supported by Lachlan Shepherd and Alfie Mather. Colby Thompson and Logan Dickson scored tries, with Jye Olsen adding a goal.
Injuries Hurt Roosters Reserves
The Roosters reserve grade team went down 46–16 to Brothers after leading 16–14 at halftime.
After trailing 10–0 early, the Roosters hit back with three tries to take the lead. But injuries crippled the side, with six players lost early in the second half. Forced to finish the game with only 13 players, the Roosters couldn’t hold out a fast-finishing Brothers.
Coach Peter Horan praised his young side, many playing their first senior match. Bryce Gesah was a standout, with strong performances from Jye Starr, Aiden Camer, Jack Rushton and Dylan Doak, who scored a classy try and kicked two goals. John Zaro also featured well.
Other try scorers were Bokeen Reid and Kane Bachelor.
In other reserve grade games, Norths beat Bowen 22–10, Souths defeated Western Lions 34–12, and Centrals beat Herbert River 46–6.
Ladies and Juniors
In the women’s match, Norths thrashed Bowen 68–0. The Burdekin Hens were unable to field a team but are expected to return next week.
In under-18s, Centrals beat the Roosters 34–12 in a trial game. Cheanne Taiters, Johben Tabo and Mason Kiehne scored tries for the Roosters.
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