Rebels top table after crushing win

error with a skilfully worked play from the base of a scrum about 35m out and slightly to the left of the uprights.

A slick pass from the scrum base put centre James Torrens on the outside of his defender which pulled the Grafton winger to him.

Torrens timed his pass to winger Jamal Laurie to perfection and he sprinted down the sideline and around to the posts to score. Nick McGrady converted for the 6-0 scoreline.

The Ghosts came close to a quick reply when a penalty for a late tackle put them on attack on the Rebels line.

Gun centre Dylan Collett had a shot at the line but some resolute defence forced the ball loose on the line.

Both teams hurled themselves at the line and the defenders responded with some tackles that had the referee reaching for his whistle.

Slater and Garbutt were penalised for inverting Aidan Hyland and a few minutes later Collett was penalised for fipping Nick McGrady in a tackle which saw him land heavily on his neck and stay down for a few minutes.

The Rebels were also guilty of similar offences, but the referee chose to keep the sin bin empty.

Although defending for the most of the half, the Ghosts would have been happy with the 6-0 scoreline as half time drew near.

But the Rebels were not to be denied and when winger Liam Bloomer fumbled a well-judged kick from Hugh Stanley, Torrens found the ball in his hands and raced around behind the sticks to score.

Ahead 12-0 at half time, the crowd were waiting for the Ghosts comeback and Collett came close again when a chip kick from fve-eighth Rhys Hambly almost stuck as it bounced awkwardly in the left corner.

But it was the Rebels who struck next when fullback Keiron JohnsonHeron broke through some fimsy tackles and found Torrens backing up on his outside.

Put into the clear Torrens raced 40 metres to score under the posts, giving McGrady another easy shot at conversion.

Despite the scoreline, there was still plenty of sting going into the defence as the Ghosts tried to fght their way back into the game

But it was the the Rebels who benefted when a hard shot from Garbutt slipped up, giving McGrady a shot at goal from in front to make the score 20-0.

The decision nearly backfred when the Ghosts found touch from the kick off and second rower Dan Shipman was held up over the line a few plays later.

But some dropped ball and penalties gave up feld position to the Rebels and their best on feld Stanley had the team’s supporters cheering when a deft pass put favourite son Grant Stevens over for a try to the right of the posts.

At 26-0 in front the game was out of reach for the Ghosts, but with 20 minutes to go, the Ghosts were desperate to avoid a blow out.

Typical of their day, the Rebels last try came when the Ghosts charged down half back Keaton Stutt’s kick ahead, but it bounced straight into his hands and he ran under the posts waving his hand in the air in triumph before touching down.

The Rebels continued to press until the end when the Ghosts defence was caught offside, McGrady slotted a penalty right on full time to make the score 34-0.

After the game a delighted Stevens said the Rebels were fnally putting together a full 80 minute effort.

“We’re starting to get back to the feeling we had at the back end of last season,” he said.

He was proud of the way the Rebels improved their discipline from recent games, which kept pressure on the Ghosts.

“It was very fast and physical game,” he said “Our game plan was to suffocate their attack and that’s what were able to do.”

Rebels coach Ron Gordon said rated the effort equal to the 30-6 win over highly rated Macksville in May.

He sang the praises of Stanley who ran the game faultlessly in the number 6 jersey.

“That was the best game I’ve seen from Hughie in a couple of years,” he said. But the Rebels were well served across the park, beginning at the back when new team captain Keiron JohnsonHeron was masterful with his catching, kick returns and backing up.

Gordon said he appointed JohnsonHeron to the role when Stevens was injured against the Ghosts and decided to leave him in the role as Stevens resumed playing off the bench.

Teenage half Stutt was again dynamic in defence and attack and in the centres Torrens and Nick McGrady nullifed the threat from Collett and did plenty of damage themselves.

In the forwards there was not a weak link with the back row of Hyland, Luke Walker, Stevens and Nick Torrens smashing their opposite numbers.

Up front hooker James Olivero was always a threat around the ruck and props Bailey Sinclair and Lionel Johnson were rock solid in attack and defence.

For the Ghosts, who have now conceded 80 points in the last two games, the soul searching will begin next week and there won’t be an easy answer as the Coffs Comets await them away.

The Rebels will host Macksville at McKittrick Park on Saturday and will be looking to put some shaky home ground form behind them.

The Rebels win also gave them their frst silverware of the season picking up the Viv Hodge Memorial Trophy, up for grabs every time the Ghosts and Rebels meet at Frank McGuren Field.

By Tim Howard

One of the Clarence Valley leading umpires and administrators has decided to stand down from representative duties.

CricketNSW head of competitions and offciating, Darren Goodger, said Grafton umpire Bruce Baxter had decided he would not longer stand on the Country Umpire Representative Panel.

Goodger said the decision had been typically “selfess” and made to give up and coming umpires a chance to offciate at the highest levels of country cricket.

Goodger said Baxter, a principal member of the NSWCUSA, served on the Country Panel since season 2017-18. Prior to that he had been a member of the Supplementary Panel.

But he said Baxter’s service to cricket in the Clarence, North Coast and NSW Country Cricket began in 1973 from the time he arrived in Grafton to take up a teaching post at South Grafton High School.