Sport
31 March, 2025
Atherton continues winning form
THE Atherton Senior Roosters added another win to their tally in Round 2 over the weekend while the Mareeba Gladiators fell short by just six points.
Atherton
The Roosters defeated the Innisfail Leprechauns in a high scoring game at Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium, Atherton over the weekend.
The home side got off the mark quick and scored two tries within the opening 10 minutes, with winger Shamish O’Quinn claiming the first in the third minute.
They went over again with prop Matt Whybird before Innisfail soon answered back with a try of their own.
Following that, Atherton put the foot down with centre Brad Hammond and prop Tomasi Skelton both going over for tries.
O’Quinn went over again just shy of halftime, bringing the score to 34-6 heading into the break.
Rooster’s lock Jacob Wallace opened the scoring four minutes into the second half and later went on to score a double.
But it was a strong second half effort from Innisfail who fired back with four tries which really softened Atherton’s blow.
The Roosters continued their strong start to the season with a 48-30 win over Innisfail.
“It was another good day for the club. The women won on Saturday and then all the other grades got a win too,” Roosters A Grade coach Joel Riethmuller said.
“So, to get all four grades coming out on top two weeks in a row is definitely a good start to the year, for us and our supporters.
“We were good in the first half, letting in only one try, but I was disappointed with the second half.
“We created some good shape, and we also defended some shape really well, but there’s still plenty to fix,” he said.
The Roosters women thrashed the Mossman Sharks 38-0, the Under 19s defeated Innisfail 38-18, and the Reserve Grade showed their strength, smashing Innisfail 48-6.
Mareeba
Mareeba faced up against the Ivanhoe Knights at their home ground in Smithfield on Sunday.
Mareeba got the jump on the home side after scoring the first two tries. Mareeba winger Aiden Morgan claimed the first try of the game in the 14th minute after a valiant kick chase effort.
Not long later, it was second-rower Kyle Hastie who barrelled his way over for a handy four-pointer.
The home side then fired back with two tries of their own, bringing the score to 12-all at halftime.
Ivanhoe’s started off hot in the second half, scoring three tries in the first 15 minutes.
With the game slipping away, Mareeba needed to produce something to change the momentum.
Fullback Trezman Banjo was the one to do it after he went over in the 60th minute. His try was followed by five-eighth Bronson Ryan and lock Whyatt Barnes.
With the game tied up, it was down to the final five minutes to see who would come out on top.
However, the home team capitalised off an error Mareeba made off the kickoff and scored a try to seal the game at 32-26.
“It’s pretty frustrating, we just keep killing ourselves with too many simple errors,” Gladiators A Grade co-coach Trent Barnard.
“I think we might have been a bit flat starting that second half. We had no bench again after a few ankle injuries, so the boys were under a fair bit of fatigue.
“But towards the back end, we started to hold the ball and scored some points to even it up again.
“Then we made another simple error off the kickoff and let them score in the corner to win the game.
“We’ve got plenty of promise but we’re making it too hard for ourselves and we can’t build pressure anywhere. Hopefully we get it right soon.”
The Under 19 Gladiators went down 40-16 to the Knight’s and the Reserve Grade lost 34-10.
This Saturday, the second place Atherton will take on the first place Southern Suburbs in Gordonvale. Under 19s play at 3pm, Reserve Grade at 4.30pm, and A Grade at 6pm.
Meanwhile, Mareeba are looking to notch up their first competition points of the season this Sunday as they take on Yarrabah, who are also yet to find a win, at Davies Park, Mareeba.
Under 19s play at 12pm, Reserve Grade at 1.30pm, and A Grade at 3pm.
