Rebels snatch competition lead

By Tim Howard

The South Grafton Rebels have jumped to the top of the Group 2 rugby ladder with a rugged 22-16 win over Sawtell at Allan Gillett Oval on Sunday. Battling a penalty count and a torrent of

Rebels ahead 10-0. Sawtell was on the board a few minutes later with a try to Kalani Morris, which was converted.

But the Rebels increased the lead soon after when centre Aidan Hyland crossed and McGrady converted to the Rebels interchange bench.

The Panthers crossed in the shadow of full time to bring the scores closer but the Rebels were able to cling on.

South Grafton coach

Ron Gordon said the two points from the game and outright competition

“It got to the stage on Sunday where we were just playing to hold onto our lead, which is not the way we want to play footy.” frst grade clash in the afternoon when the call came that Bellingen had pulled out.

Overall Gordon is pretty happy with his team’s position coming into the second half of the season.

It ignited commentary that the Group should not have allowed the Magpies into the competition when they revealed they could not feld under-18 and reserve grade teams.

Group 2 chairman

Warren Gilkinson said the Group had asked Bellingen, which season. possession to the home side, the Rebels clung onto their early lead as the Panthers clawed their way back into the game.

“Bellingen are gone if they forfeit again,” he said.

He said the Ghosts would receive compensation for the loss of a home game.

It was only two tries against the run of play that gave the Rebels a buffer to see out the game.

Rebels prop Bailey Sinclair opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a good try to give the visitors a 4-nil lead.

The heartbreak for the Sawtell team and fans began less than 10 minutes later when the Rebels scored against the run of play.

After repelling repeated Panthers attacks on their line, Sawtell resorted to the bomb only to have winger Jamal Laurie soar above pack, snatch the ball and race the length of the feld to score.

Nick McGrady knocked over the conversion to put the make it 16-6 which was the score at half time.

Big centre Jye Boehme scored the Rebels only try of the second half as the crowd was still settling in their seats.

With the Panthers hot on attack, the Rebels pounced on some loose ball about 70m out and sent the young star on a sprint to the line. McGrady converted giving the Rebels a 22-6 lead.

But the scoreline was misleading as the Panthers received the lions share of possession. Tested to the limits the Rebels defence held until midway through the half when prop Jovan Robinson crashed over and Damion Dumas converted to make the 22-12.

Wth very little ball coming their way, the Rebels had to dig deep in defence and the rising injury took its toll of lead were the only silver linings from the game.

He said he is becoming concerned at the number of high tackles his players are receiving without the referees stamping it out.

“It’s getting ridiculous,” Gordon said. “We had a set where three of our players received high tackles and there wasn’t a penalty.”

“Then we get penalised because the ref thinks we’re lying on the tackled player too long. Which is worse?”

Gordon said he understood the Group’s struggle attracting enough referees to offciate at games, but player welfare was becoming a concern.

“I don’t know what it is,” he said. “Maybe the refs become a bit intimidated with our boys’ style of play, but I don’t think we’re getting a fair share.

“To be on top when we’ve had fve away games is very satisfying. We’ve got fve of our last seven games at home, so we’ve got a good run into the semi-fnals.”

The Rebels host Coffs Harbour Comets in the frst of those home games on Sunday.

Coffs Harbour beat the Rebels earlier in the season, but Gordon was confdent his team has come together since then.

“They’re a bogey side for us down there, but they don’t have a lot of success when they come up here,” Gordon said.

On Saturday the Grafton Ghosts secured two competition points when Bellingen disappointingly forfeited on the morning of the game.

Grafton offcials were setting up the ground for a day’s football action culminating in the forfeited a replay game to the Rebels earlier in the season, for an explanation.

“Until we hear back from them I’m not going to say too much,” he said.

Gilkinson said the Group 2 constitution would ban a club after two consecutive forfeits or three in total in a

“Bellingen will be fned and the proceeds from the fne will go to the Ghosts,” Gilkinson said. The two points from the forfeit puts the Ghosts into outright second spot on the ladder, just one point behind South Grafton. Scores South Grafton 22. Tries: Bailey Sinclair, Jamal Laurie, Aidan Hyland, Jye Boehme. Goals Nick McGrady 3 (4) def Sawtell 16. Tries: Kalani Morris, Jovan Robinson, Jordan Starr. Goals: Damion Dumas 2 (3).