Sport
12 May, 2025
Local clubs climb the ladder
BOTH the Atherton Roosters and Mareeba Gladiators have climbed the ladder in the FNQ Rugby League competition after finding good wins over the weekend.
Atherton handed Cairns Brothers their first loss of the season, taking them down 42-32, and Mareeba had a convincing win against the Innisfail Leprechauns, out muscling them for a 40-18 victory.
ATHERTON
The Atherton Roosters have moved into second place on the ladder after handing Cairns Brothers their first loss of the season.
The Roosters defeated Brothers 42-32 in a high scoring game in Atherton over the weekend.
The Roosters dominated the first half and went into the break leading 30-16. Though the Brothers put up a good fight in the second half, Atherton managed to maintain their lead and come away with the win.
Wingers Regan Herd and Shamish O’Quinn both picked up doubles, while props Tomasi Skelton and Ty Grogan also found themselves a try each.
Interchange hooker Jacob Wallace also went over for a four pointer. The Roosters scored seven tries to the Brothers six.
Regan Herd’s goal kicking is what helped cement Atherton’s win after kicking seven from seven conversions. With his two tries, Herd scored a total of 22 points during the game.
The Roosters Reserve Grade side went down 20-32 to the Brothers Reserve’s and the Under 19 Roosters also lost 14-18. The Atherton Roosters Women’s team also lost, going down 16-32 to the Yarrabah Seahawks.
This Saturday, Atherton will host the Tully Tigers at Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium with the Under 19s set to kick off at 3pm, followed by Reserve Grade at 4.30pm, and A Grade at 6pm.
The Roosters Women will take on the Cairns Kangaroo’s at 1.30pm, also in Atherton.
MAREEBA
After finding a convincing win against the Innisfail Leprechauns, the Mareeba Gladiators have now slid up to fifth place on the ladder.
The Gladiators travelled to Innisfail on Sunday and outmuscled the home team to claim a 40-18 win.
It was a tightly contested first half to start the game. Mareeba got away with an early lead, scoring two tries through hooker Seamus King-Smith and winger Joe Shadrick to take a 12-0 lead just after 10 minutes.
But the home team answered back with two tries of their own late in the first half, taking the score to 12-8 at halftime.
Mareeba then came out in the second half and went on to score five tries, while Innisfail only managed to score two.
Prop Ash Little went over first, followed by a double from centre Bronson Ryan. King-Smith then went over his second of the game and lock Whyatt Barnes also found himself a four-pointer.
Mareeba kicked five from seven conversions with halfback Kaleb Eaton kicking four, as well as a penalty goal.
The Mareeba Reserve Grade side also found a win in a thrilling match against Innisfail, with five-eighth Isaiah Bowen kicking a field goal with less than 10 seconds on the clock to win the game 19-18.
The Under 19 Gladiators weren’t so fortunate, going down 12-34 to the Innisfail Under 19s.
This weekend, the Gladiators’ senior grades will have a bye.
