Agnes Water hosted this weekend’s fixtures, taking on Gin Gin in the main game.
New recruit Rodney McIntosh scored a double for the Marlins but it was not enough to secure the win against the Hawks who now have five wins from five games, getting off to a perfect start to the 2014 NDRL season.
Gin Gin ran in seven tries with centre Christopher Jensen scoring a double. In the first half the Marlins were up 20-16 but could not hold out the Hawks. Gin Gin won by 12 with the final score 38-26.
It was a family affair for the Hawks team with three sets of brothers in the line up with John-Paul Galea debuting for the club playing alongside Brother Brandon. The Kuskey brothers both scored a try each with Brent kicking five goals. Gin Gin take on Miriam Vale in two weeks time at the Hawks home ground.
Being the XXXX Rivalry Round Miriam Vale played South Kolan with the two sides having a long history since Miriam Vale re-entered the NDRL competition over 10 years ago after time out of the comp.
In front of a packed Gary Larsen Oval back in 2005 the two teams met in the grand final with the Magpies securing a premiership on their home soil. South Kolan came back strongly the next year making another grand final, losing to Biggenden at Biggenden proving a home ground advantage can prove the difference in a GF.
Miriam Vale made the grand final three out of four years in the late 2000’s beating Gin Gin in 2008 and 2010. When the 2012 grand final was held at South Kolan’s Shark Park it was the Sharks turn to have the home ground advantage beating the injury ravaged Magpies. Glenn Cox who played in the 2005 GF was out with a broken leg along with Carl Griffiths who had a serious knee injury and the Pies missed these two quality players.
In last weekend’s match South Kolan got another one up on the Magpies with a convincing 78-14 score line. Miriam Vale were lacking numbers on the bench but Kolan were simply too strong with 14 of their 15 tries scored by new Tongan players who have recently come to the Sharks rescue. Blake scored five tries for the Sharks in the huge win.
This weekend there are no NDRL fixtures as we have representative football.
Congrats to Corey Chapman, Aaron Lowcock, Glenn Cox, Michael Murphy, Andrew Filo,
Ben Kuskey, Tim McIntosh, Matthew Card, Jesse Jenkins who are playing in the Wide Bay country Rangers side playing in the 47th Battalion at Gladstone along with players selected from South and Central Burnett. All the best to Rangers coach Michael O’Sullivan who was successful at the rep Carnival held in Miriam Vale in April.
Next games are at Gin Gin on May 18 where NDRL will celebrate Women in League Round. Supporters are asked to pop on purple or pink and come dressed up with prizes for best outfits. There are novelty games for the kids, with plenty of pink and purple sweets. Players are wearing purple socks in support of the McGrath Foundation. Congratulations and thank you to all our women volunteers who fill a huge variety of positions to help keep rugby league alive in our region.
