The Bichel name is one that resonates through the Gatton area be it for rugby league or cricket – you are guaranteed there will be a Bichel involved.
Rob Bichel was a tough Jet who played in 35 Intrust Super Cup games for Ipswich between 1996 and 1998, a hard-hitting era for the club.
Bichel won the Ipswich Jets player of the year in 1996, but he now spends his time managing the Gatton Hawks in the Volunteers Cup.
“I was going to have a game this year so I could play with Oliver; in Reserves or C Grade, but then the competition got put on hold,” Bichel said.
“I am 47, so I wasn’t keen on playing A grade when it started again.
“I am managing the side and that might be enough now.”
One player he needs to manage from Saturday will be son Oliver Bichel who played for the Western Mustangs in Round 1 of the Auswide Mal Meninga Cup; playing his part in a 26-20 win over the Souths Logan Magpies.
Oliver played on the wing for the Mustangs in March, but made his A grade debut for the Hawks in Round 2 of the Volunteers Cup against West End last week at hooker.
The Hawks were beaten 36-30 in a close match, but it was good to see the Bichel name on an A grade team sheet again in Ipswich.
“I really enjoyed it, we have a young side,” Oliver said.
While Oliver did enjoy the tackling in the middle, it did not stop him getting a try on debut as well.
“I played hooker and I think that’s my best position, I like tackling,” Oliver said.
“It’s always nice to get a try.”
The elder Bichel was impressed with Oliver’s tackling technique and Oliver’s performance showed he was just another Bichel who enjoyed a contest.
“He has good technique I think he really enjoys that physical side of the contest,” Bichel said.
Last weekend, Gatton got away to a good lead and were ahead 20-10 at halftime, fixing many of the errors from Round 1 which saw them lose to Norths 48-12.
West End got back to 26-26 with 20 minutes to go and Gatton made some errors to give away a penalty at the end that cost them and the Bulldogs ran away to claim the win from there.
“I think that’s something we need to fix; we just let teams back into the game,” Oliver said after the loss.
“We should have finished that game on the weekend.”
This week, the Hawks will be looking make another step towards a win when they take on their fellow Toowoomba brethren in Souths Toowoomba.
Oliver thinks he has some inside running, with many Souths boys playing with him at Mustangs.
“Souths have a lot of the Mustangs players, so maybe I can offer some inside knowledge,” Oliver said.
“I am just so excited and thankful to be playing football; I was concerned it was going to be all over for this year.”
Ipswich Rugby League is thankful too that a Bichel is back at the North Ipswich Reserve.
The Bichel name is one that resonates through the Gatton area be it for rugby league or cricket – you a guaranteed that there will be a Bichel involved.
Rob Bichel was a tough Jet who played in 35 Intrust Super Cup games for Ipswich between 1996 and 1998, a hard-hitting era for the club.
Bichel won the Ipswich Jets player of the year in 1996, but he now spends his time managing the Gatton Hawks in the Volunteers Cup.
“I was going to have a game this year so I could play with Oliver; in Reserves or C Grade, but then the competition got put on hold,” Bichel said.
“I am 47, so I wasn’t keen on playing A grade when it started again.
“I am managing the side and that might be enough now.”
One player he needs to manage from Saturday will be son Oliver Bichel who played for the Western Mustangs in Round 1 of the Auswide Mal Meninga Cup; playing his part in a 26-20 win over the Souths Logan Magpies.
Oliver played on the wing for the Mustangs in March, but made his A grade debut for the Gatton Hawks in Round 2 of the Volunteers Cup against West End last week at hooker.
The Hawks were beaten 36-30 in a close match, but it was good to see the Bichel name on an A grade team sheet again in Ipswich.
“I really enjoyed it, we have a young side,” Oliver said.
While Oliver did enjoy the tackling in the middle, it did not stop him getting a try on debut as well.
“I played hooker and I think that’s my best position, I like tackling,” Oliver said.
“It’s always nice to get a try.”
The elder Bichel was impressed with Oliver’s tackling technique and Oliver’s performance showed he was just another Bichel who enjoyed a contest.
“He has good technique I think he really enjoys that physical side of the contest,” Bichel said.
Last weekend, Gatton got away to a good lead and were ahead 20-10 at halftime, fixing many of the errors from Round 1 which saw them lose to Norths 48-12.
West End got back to 26-26 with 20 minutes to go and Gatton made some errors to give away a penalty at the end that cost them and the Bulldogs ran away to claim the win from there.
“I think that’s something we need to fix; we just let teams back into the game,” Oliver said after the loss.
“We should have finished that game on the weekend.”
This week, the Hawks will be looking make another step towards a win when they take on their fellow Toowoomba brethren in Souths Toowoomba.
Oliver thinks he has some inside running, with many Souths boys playing with him at Mustangs.
“Souths have a lot of the Mustangs players, so maybe I can offer some inside knowledge,” Oliver said.
“I am just so excited and thankful to be playing football; I was concerned it was going to be all over for this year.”
Ipswich Rugby League is thankful too that a Bichel is back at the North Ipswich Reserve.
