The University Saints have opened their 2015 campaign with a thrilling 12-10 away victory against the Charters Towers Miners on Saturday night.
In hot and humid conditions, it was the Miners who started the better of the two teams crossing early, and continuously putting pressure on the Saints defense.
However the Saints were able to repel raid after raid with Saints centre Jordan Remfrey pulling off a number of try saving tackles with some bruising hits to keep University in the game going into half time.
Very little separated the sides in the second half, however a late try to Nicklan Evans and the accuracy of goal kicker Jake McManus ensured a slender lead which University managed to maintain until the fulltime siren.
Both sides showed tremendous courage and committment for an opening round match, however it was the Saints who who will now take a lot of confidence into this weekends second round away match against the Herbert River Crushers.
BROTHERS 40 (Tries: Simeon Fuller 2, Nathan Norford 1, Lloyd McIvor 2, Mate Rajan 1, Aidan Ketchup 1, Goals: Nathan Norford 5, Aiden Ketchup 1) def NORTHS 28 (Tries: Daniel Pickering 1, Josh Tyshing 1, Taylor Welsh 1, Trevor Bowman 2, Goals: Nathaniel Bowman 4)
UNIVERSITY 12 (Jono Castarino 1, Nicklin Evans 1, Goals: Jake McManus 1, Kylie Laybutt 1) def CHARTERS TOWERS 10 (Tries: Jon Crawley 1, Keinan Kerr 1, Goals: Adam Shaw 1)
HERBERT RIVER 50 (Tries: Troy Menegon 1, Steven Devietti 1, BJ Munns 2, Mitchel Seri 1, Luke LaRosa 1, Damian Devietti 1, Goals Mitchell Seri 7) def CENTRALS 18 (Tries: Jesse Pomare Anderson 1, Ada Waianga 1, Silas Bourke 1, Goals: Wesley Barrie 2)
Points: Herbert River 4, Brothers 4, University 4, Burdekin 4, Charters Towers 0, Norths 0, Centrals 0.
