After a difficult and emotionally charged week the Mariners took on Brothers on Friday night in both grades. The reserve grade game kicked of not long after all the boys returned from the memorial service held for Charlie “Water Boy” Scanlon. Prior to the reserve grade kick off all players and coaching staff held a minutes silence on the field to remember and reflect on the impact that Water Boy bought to the Club.
Reserve Grade Match Report:
With almost a 3 week break between games last Friday saw most of the boys jumping out of their skins to get back on the field and tackle the fish. With the inspiration of Charlie (Water boy) behind us that’s is exactly what the boys did. The reserve grade forward pack came out firing like a team possessed; every hit up saw meter gained which laid the platform for our backs to start scoring tries. At half time JCU found themselves up 17 nil. The 2nd half began just like the first with our forward pack showing plenty of skill and determination. However as changes were made from the bench some of our go forward slowed which allowed brothers to slip in 3 late tries. With our backs against the wall and one of the biggest hits (Yankee Chris) I have seen in the 8 years I have been in this club JCU managed to hold the fish out with the full time score ending up being 21 JCU, Brothers 19. Well done to all who took the field on Friday night, especially the first half forward pack lead by Ray Turner, Disco Dave, Kane Peramo, Brendan Turner and the big man Dyksie. We may have the smallest forward pack but we well and truly have the biggest heart. Well done boys!
– Alex Costello
A Grade Match Report:
The first grade team had a few minor changes in our back line due to injuries being suffered, but this was not to deter from the task in front of us. Brothers were coming in off some good wins and with a little propaganda in the media where set to try and turn around the result of the last time we met.
We took to the field ready for what ever they may throw at us but unfortunately the brothers side where first to cross thru Kele Diegi to give them a 5 nil lead early on. We kept our heads up and before long we took the lead thru some great lead up work to put us on 7 to there 5. Brothers would score another try thru Diegi under the post only to have the conversion go wayward the score 10 to seven two thirds of the way thru the first half. We kept up the intensity only to be denied close to there line. The stale mate was broken just prior to half time with a great penalty kick to Dion Pryor. The score would remain at 10 all at half time, with spirits up and good talk the Boys knew what needed to be done in the second half.
The Mariners took to the field in the second half with a lot of courage and before long the lead began to alternate between the teams. With about ten to fifteen minutes remaining we had taken a 12 point lead thru some great back plays, forward hit ups and some individual brilliance by our Fly Half Justin Brown. We managed to hold on to that lead right up to two minutes left when Brothers made an almost length of the field break to set up for the last try of the night. The Mariners where eventual winners, 34 to 29 in what was to be an entertaining game. Some stand out performances where from Noel Stanton, Jordan Massey, Kerrod Martorella, Justin Brown and Dion Pryor.
The final Score JCU Mariners 34 (Tries Justin Brown 2, Clayton Pursche, Jordan Massey and Peter Fairweather one each Dion Pryor 2 Con 1 Pen and Shannon Mackey 1 Con) Defeated Brothers 29 (5 Tries and 2 Conversions).
– Norto
