EXPRESS sPORT
Bulls pip Dolphins By Boyd Robertson The Mareeba Bulls are through to the next stage of the of the FFA cup after edging out the Stratford Dolphins 2-1 at Borzi Park on Saturday night. Wet, rainy conditions made life complicated for both sides as Dolphins danger man Joe Rusch shocked Mareeba with an early goal. Bulls midfielder Robert Pendenza responded by bulleting a 40-yard shot clean through Dolphin keeper Angelo Serafin’s hands. Not to be outdone, striker Steven Cater popped up to tip the scales in Mareeba’s favour 15 minutes out from full time. The win allows Mareeba to go up against the FNQ Heat on April 20 at a yetto-be-determined venue. Bulls coach Alex Srhoj said the game was a hard-fought win and that going up against the Heat would be a significant challenge. “The conditions didn’t make it easy, we enjoyed the possession but we still had to
Mareeba player Wayne Srhoj shakes the hand of junior Bulls player Logan Acha before the game
fight for it – Stratford fought hard but in the end we’re pleased to come out with the result we did,” Srhoj said. “There’s still things we can improve on – we have to train hard and ensure our level is the highest it can be.” Mareeba captain Victor Madrid said despite some new blood still working out their place within the team, his side had coordinated well in bad conditions. “We started off well, there was patches there we might have played a pretty sloppy, especially toward the end when we scored that second goal,” Madrid said. “I think we’re coming together well, and when we play well we play really well.” Madrid also said taking on the Heat would be a ‘new experience’ for many Bulls players. “For some of us it’s going to be new, for others it’s just going to be another game,” he said. “Nevertheless the Heat are a quality side, they train three days a week and play at a national level so it’ll definitely be a hard game.”
Suburbs knock down ‘Gators The Mareeba Gladiators have been handed a severe thrashing by the Southern Suburbs Cockatoos at Davies Park on Saturday, with the A Grade side losing 8-40. Mareeba’s Reserves and Under 18s sides also went down 10-38 and 22-36, respectively. The loss makes for a demoralising start to the season for the Gladiators A Grade squad, who received a similar drubbing from Mossman/Port Douglas in their first game the previous weekend. Repeated errors and woeful defence at the tryline by the Gladiators coupled with Suburbs’ excellent co-ordination meant Mareeba could never gain any momentum in the offence, despite tries by hooker Adenesia Cokanasiga and centre Rob Pedersen. Pedersen’s dramatic try after scooping up a fumbled Suburbs ball near the tryline was a momentary hope spot for the Mareeba crowd, who had turned out in force to see the home side play and
erupted in cheers as he slid across the line. However Mareeba never really got the chance to repeat the feat, forced into defence by the relentless Cockatoos offensive game. The Gladiators also lost scrum-half Jackson Peters and captain Jack Pedersen to injury midway through the game, with Peters stretchered off field and expected to be sidelined for at least several weeks. A Grade coach Cameron McPherson had no excuses for the ‘disappointing loss’, admitting his squad had simply been outperformed despite their best efforts. “I can’t fault the boys’ attitude, we just weren’t disciplined enough and made so many errors,” he said. “The effort this week was good and it’s clear what we need to work on is execution and co-ordination – it’s no good to put in 100 per cent effort but only come away with 30 per cent proper execution.”
Roosters battle Brothers By Boyd Robertson The Atherton Roosters Under 18s side has stood out from the rest of the town’s teams after comfortably defeating Brothers Cairns in a home game on Saturday. The Under 18s were the only Roosters side to come out on top at Atherton Showgrounds on the weekend, with the A Grade squad losing 22-30 and the Reserves going down 24-30. Under 18s winger Dylan Parise, centre Tom Squires, five-eighth Ned Blackman and forward Jimmy
Malone all planted impressive tries for Atherton during the game, with kicker Jake Fahey successfully converting two tries. Superior coordination and aggressiveness in the ruck meant they kept the Brothers on the back foot for the whole game, with Cairns only able to land a single converted try. The Under 18s have had a brilliant start to their season so far after smashing Ivanhoes 44-16 in the first game and edging out the Edmonton Storm 30-26 on March 16. In the A Grade game Dean McGlvary scored two tries for the
Roosters, with Jamie Thackery and Tyson Birchal also crossing the line. Kicker Nathan Curcio made three conversions. The Roosters Reserves (action from Saturday’s game pictured) faced extremely tough opposition from their Brothers counterparts, in particular from dreadlock-sporting forward Jackson Wosomo. Reserves players Craig Gregory, Joel Masso and Aaron Price all scored tries for the Roosters during the game, setting up two conversions each for Noel Woodleigh and Graham Henry.
Ladies hockey team Away Game! Ivanhoes vs off to state finals A group of 14 keen young ladies will be travelling to the Gold Coast to represent the Atherton Tableland Hockey Association at the Ladies State Open Championships on April 25-28. Building upon the experience of 2013 where the team placed 16th in the State Championships, the Atherton team are travelling to Cairns on a weekly basis to practice on the turf fields used in championship games in addition to regular training sessions on the Tableland. It is hoped that getting in the vital turf skills training will make the team more competitive in the championship’s round robin competition. To support the cost of travel and accom-
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modation the team are planning a number of fundraising events, including a a car wash to be held at Rob Cahill’s Auto Service in Atherton’s Main Street on April 12. Manager Chris Clair urged the Tableland community to support the team. “These girls have put in a fantastic effort in their commitment to the team and training,” Clair said. “They will be representing their community at state-level titles and any help they can get through people either attending this car wash and other fundraising functions or through donations or sponsorship will be greatly appreciated.” Clair added that he can be contacted on 0488 913 334.
Mareeba Gladiators SMITHFIELD SPORTING COMPLEX THIS SATURDAY - ALL GRADES
• UNDER 18s 12.00PM • RESERVES 1.30PM • A-GRADE 3PM
Show your colours.... come and support the Gladiators!! The Express, Wednesday, March 26, 2014 PAGE 27