Sport
14 June, 2021
Roosters first win of 2021 season
FOURTEEN tries were scored in an entertaining match and in the end it was the Atherton Roosters who held off a fast finishing Edmonton Storm to take the points 40-38 at Atherton’s Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium on Saturday night.
FOURTEEN tries were scored in an entertaining match and in the end it was the Atherton Roosters who held off a fast finishing Edmonton Storm to take the points 40-38 at Atherton’s Mungalli Creek Dairy Stadium on Saturday night.
It was the Roosters first win in the 2021 first grade premiership race but their poor second half effort nearly cost them the celebration victory.
Edmonton opened the match scoring with a try after only three minutes of play before the Roosters turned it on with their best forty minutes for the year and delivered six unanswered tries to set up a 34-6 lead at the break.
Glenn Dumbrell and Ty Grogan both scored doubles in the home sides try feast and the Roosters went to the sheds looking very confident.
However the restart was all Edmonton as they started to chase the Roosters down with three quick tries and were back in the match trailing 34-22 at the 60th minute.
The Roosters looked to have lost their intensity and were now missing tackles and dropping the ball early in the tackle count which was helping Edmonton to stay in the contest.
Nigel Woodleigh’s try at the 65th minute took some pressure off the Roosters for a while but Edmonton hit back with three tries in the closing minutes to now trail 40-38 with three minutes of play remaining.
Edmonton went close to snatching victory in the final minute after another Roosters ball handling error gave the visitors a final crack at the Roosters line.
The 80 minute siren saved the under pressure Roosters and they had escaped with a two point win.
Edmonton won the three lower grade games played – Ladies 42-0, Under 18’s 38-32 and reserve grade 34-0.
Cairns District Rugby League premiership action continues at Mareeba this Saturday with local derby action between the Roosters and the Gladiators.
