General News
9 May, 2022
Roosters claim first derby clash
THE Atherton Roosters have emerged victorious 32-12 in their face off against town rivals the Mareeba Gladiators in the first round of the Tablelands Cup on Saturday night at Davies Park.
THE Atherton Roosters have emerged victorious 32-12 in their face off against town rivals the Mareeba Gladiators in the first round of the Tablelands Cup on Saturday night at Davies Park.
Both teams were eagerly looking forward to the weekend’s match-up with the Roosters walking onto Gladiators territory fully stocked while the hosts were still riddled with injuries.
Atherton broke the silence first as Jermaine Pedro crossed the line and started a five-try frenzy as the Roosters kept piling on the points.
The Gladiators struck back twice with Litani Pakalani and Seone Patolo however their efforts did little to stem the steady tide of Roosters jerseys crossing the line. Gladiators coach Chris Sheppard was proud of the efforts of his players in the face of a tough opponent.
“We started really well and stuck to the task, the effort was outstanding but we lacked some polish when we needed it,” he said. “We had more injuries, finishing the game with no one left on the bench and people playing out of position but every one of the them had a crack. “I’d like to single out Caleb Dally, Rob Pedersen and Keripo Gutchen-Gela for leading us, all playing 80 minutes in the middle of the park.”
Now the Roosters hope to continue their dominant form as they play the Kangaroos at home at Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium. The Gladiators will remain home as Cairns Brothers make the trip up the hill.
