Atherton Roosters are celebrating after finally securing their first Bendigo Bank Cairns District Rugby League A Grade win of the season a 56-16 home victory over fellow strugglers Mossman-Port Douglas on Saturday night.
The Roosters had previously suffered a run of 16 straight losses in 2013, but finally got the monkey off their back in style with a comfortable win at Atherton Showground.
Colt Tairua (two), Craig Gregory, Waylon Joseph, Bert Whap, Nathan Curcio, Victor Akiba, Tod Whap, Mike Hauraki and Trent Molloy all crossed in the 10-try romp.
Atherton secretary Darryl Day said that despite the clubs difficult year so far, there was still plenty for the Roosters to play for during the final three rounds of the season.
Everyone associated with the club was thrilled on Saturday night, especially as we gave some of our Under 18s players a go and they all played well, said Day.
Every club goes through a season like ours now and then, and its how you bounce back thats most important.
Weve been here before and come back, and I am fully confident that we can come back from this as well.
Well be doing our best to get off the bottom of the table over the last three rounds, and hopefully cause a few upsets.
Atherton are now just four points behind Mossman in the race to avoid the wooden spoon, and travel to Mareeba this weekend for a mouth-watering Tablelands derby.
Day said the club had also started the recruitment process to replace outgoing head coach Darren Cassidy.
Unfortunately its not worked out with Darren, but weve now put the job out there for the 2014 season and already had a fair bit of interest, he said.
We want to get someone in place by September, so we can give the new coach a full pre-season and get the club moving forwards in the right direction.
Brothers edged finals rivals Southern Suburbs 27-26 in a thrilling clash at Stan Williams Park on Sunday.
Anthony Satrick was the Brethren hero, slotting over a 40 metre field goal with just two minutes left on the clock.
The reigning premiers outscored the visitors five tries to four, a result which moves Brothers into third spot on the ladder, now just one point behind Suburbs in second spot.
Innisfail kept alive their finals hopes with an impressive 30-28 victory in their must-win clash against leaders Kangaroos at Vico Oval.
Northern Pride-contracted halfback Jordan Biondi-Odo was the hero, slotting a late penalty goal to edge the Leprechauns to a thrilling victory.
Biondi-Odo collected a personal haul of 14 points (one try, five goals), to help Innisfail keep in touch with their rivals for a finals place, just two points outside the top five.
Ivanhoes remain in that vital fifth spot after a crucial 22-18 win over Edmonton Storm at Barlow Park on Saturday.
Both sides crossed for four tries each, but the boot of Taiby Doolah was the difference, the Knights player kicking three goals to edge the visitors home.
Meanwhile, sixth-placed Yarrabah continued their impressive form as they claimed their sixth win in seven games with a 50-28 triumph over high-flying Mareeba.
Milton Mossman (two), Merton Richards, Oswald Fourmile, Theeran Pearson, Wade Smith, Fenton Murgha, Charles Murgha, Bert Harris and Edward Dabah all scored tries for the finals-chasing hosts.
Eighth-placed Tully Tigers had a bye.
2013 Bendigo Bank A Grade ROUND 19
Saturday 27 July
Ivanhoes 22 (McMullen 2, Hancock, Sagigi tries; Doolah 3 goals) def Edmonton 18 (Tildora 2, Cobb, Kusu tries; B. Murgha goal) at Barlow Park.
Atherton 56 (Tairua 2, Gregory, Joseph, B. Whap, Curcio, Akiba, T. Whap, Hauraki, Molloy tries; Curcio 6, Pedro 2 goals) def Mossman-Port Douglas 16 (D. Oui, Denman, Dodd tries; L. Murgha 2 goals) at Atherton Showground.
Innisfail 30 (Topliss, Romano, Haren, Biondi-Odo, Laza tries; Biondi-Odo 5 goals) def Kangaroos 28 (Stephens, Kerwick, Allen, Amber, White, Leumann tries; Amber 2 goals) at Vico Oval.
Sunday 28 July
Yarrabah 50 (M. Mossman 2, Richards, O. Fourmile, Pearson, Smith, F. Murgha, C. Murgha, Harris, Dabah tries; Murgha 2, Harris 2, Maloney goals) def Mareeba 28 (Pedersen 3, Kose, Gutchen tries; Lea 4 goals) at Jilara Oval.
Brothers 27 (OFarrell, Satrick, Castellaro, Swain, Bann tries; Beetham 2, Castellaro goals; Satrick field goal) def Suburbs 26 (Chinfat, Saunders, Prior, Sutherland tries; Babsek 5 goals) at Stan Williams Park.
Tully bye.
The Roosters had previously suffered a run of 16 straight losses in 2013, but finally got the monkey off their back in style with a comfortable win at Atherton Showground.
Colt Tairua (two), Craig Gregory, Waylon Joseph, Bert Whap, Nathan Curcio, Victor Akiba, Tod Whap, Mike Hauraki and Trent Molloy all crossed in the 10-try romp.
Atherton secretary Darryl Day said that despite the clubs difficult year so far, there was still plenty for the Roosters to play for during the final three rounds of the season.
Everyone associated with the club was thrilled on Saturday night, especially as we gave some of our Under 18s players a go and they all played well, said Day.
Every club goes through a season like ours now and then, and its how you bounce back thats most important.
Weve been here before and come back, and I am fully confident that we can come back from this as well.
Well be doing our best to get off the bottom of the table over the last three rounds, and hopefully cause a few upsets.
Atherton are now just four points behind Mossman in the race to avoid the wooden spoon, and travel to Mareeba this weekend for a mouth-watering Tablelands derby.
Day said the club had also started the recruitment process to replace outgoing head coach Darren Cassidy.
Unfortunately its not worked out with Darren, but weve now put the job out there for the 2014 season and already had a fair bit of interest, he said.
We want to get someone in place by September, so we can give the new coach a full pre-season and get the club moving forwards in the right direction.
Brothers edged finals rivals Southern Suburbs 27-26 in a thrilling clash at Stan Williams Park on Sunday.
Anthony Satrick was the Brethren hero, slotting over a 40 metre field goal with just two minutes left on the clock.
The reigning premiers outscored the visitors five tries to four, a result which moves Brothers into third spot on the ladder, now just one point behind Suburbs in second spot.
Innisfail kept alive their finals hopes with an impressive 30-28 victory in their must-win clash against leaders Kangaroos at Vico Oval.
Northern Pride-contracted halfback Jordan Biondi-Odo was the hero, slotting a late penalty goal to edge the Leprechauns to a thrilling victory.
Biondi-Odo collected a personal haul of 14 points (one try, five goals), to help Innisfail keep in touch with their rivals for a finals place, just two points outside the top five.
Ivanhoes remain in that vital fifth spot after a crucial 22-18 win over Edmonton Storm at Barlow Park on Saturday.
Both sides crossed for four tries each, but the boot of Taiby Doolah was the difference, the Knights player kicking three goals to edge the visitors home.
Meanwhile, sixth-placed Yarrabah continued their impressive form as they claimed their sixth win in seven games with a 50-28 triumph over high-flying Mareeba.
Milton Mossman (two), Merton Richards, Oswald Fourmile, Theeran Pearson, Wade Smith, Fenton Murgha, Charles Murgha, Bert Harris and Edward Dabah all scored tries for the finals-chasing hosts.
Eighth-placed Tully Tigers had a bye.
2013 Bendigo Bank A Grade ROUND 19
Saturday 27 July
Ivanhoes 22 (McMullen 2, Hancock, Sagigi tries; Doolah 3 goals) def Edmonton 18 (Tildora 2, Cobb, Kusu tries; B. Murgha goal) at Barlow Park.
Atherton 56 (Tairua 2, Gregory, Joseph, B. Whap, Curcio, Akiba, T. Whap, Hauraki, Molloy tries; Curcio 6, Pedro 2 goals) def Mossman-Port Douglas 16 (D. Oui, Denman, Dodd tries; L. Murgha 2 goals) at Atherton Showground.
Innisfail 30 (Topliss, Romano, Haren, Biondi-Odo, Laza tries; Biondi-Odo 5 goals) def Kangaroos 28 (Stephens, Kerwick, Allen, Amber, White, Leumann tries; Amber 2 goals) at Vico Oval.
Sunday 28 July
Yarrabah 50 (M. Mossman 2, Richards, O. Fourmile, Pearson, Smith, F. Murgha, C. Murgha, Harris, Dabah tries; Murgha 2, Harris 2, Maloney goals) def Mareeba 28 (Pedersen 3, Kose, Gutchen tries; Lea 4 goals) at Jilara Oval.
Brothers 27 (OFarrell, Satrick, Castellaro, Swain, Bann tries; Beetham 2, Castellaro goals; Satrick field goal) def Suburbs 26 (Chinfat, Saunders, Prior, Sutherland tries; Babsek 5 goals) at Stan Williams Park.
Tully bye.
