Last Saturday saw the Mama Africa Raiders Rugby Union team welcome the visiting Kuttabul Camel Boks to the Whitsunday Sportspark.
It was the first time the two teams had met since last year’s grand final and happened to be the top of the table clash for this season, and on paper, the game to watch this round.
With the weather conditions overcast and the grounds damp, everyone was looking forward to a great tussle across the paddock.
Kuttabul’s big forward pack and their strong backline were always going to be formidable to beat, but the Raiders were prepared for a physical fight.
With great preparation during the week but a couple of players carrying injuries, coach Andre Houston fielded probably the youngest average age team the club has ever seen.
Most of the home side had come back from the CQ championships in Rockhampton, held over the May Day long weekend, having played three games in three days, and Kuttabul also had a couple of players in the championship.
From the kick off, both teams showed they were up for a contest, and against the run of play and defending near their line, the Raiders won a turnover with young debutant Rhys Ward opening up the Kuttabul defensive line and running away for an 80 metre try under the posts, deftly converted by Niall Clancy.
The set piece tussle at scrums and line outs was an even affair with both teams gaining and losing the advantage across the field. In the end the Raiders came away with the bigger advantage.
Kuttabul hit back during the first half to be just behind at the break, 17 -10 to the Raiders, two tries a piece but the conversions and a penalty goal being the difference.
The second half started off well for the men in green, and again it was the young gun Rhys Ward who darted the ball across the line in the corner to put the Raiders in front 22-10.
Kuttabul weren’t giving up and with another unconverted try leaving them trailing by just 7 points going into the last quarter of the game.
Both sides were putting in the big hits, creating turn over ball and counter attacks right across the paddock, and a few of the older Raider players stepped up from the bench to make impacts.
Ryan Edkins, Trent Elson, William Pratt, and Andre Houston showed that age is just a number; which in turn sparked up the young guns. Raiders were able to convert two more penalties to lead the game 28-15 at the 73rd minute as well as keep the Camel Boks contained for the rest of the game.
Full time score 28-15 to the Mama Africa’s Raiders men in green, try scorers Rhys Ward (2), Connor Spence, and kicking duties Niall Clancy 2 conversions, 3 penalty goals
Player Points, 3 Rhys Ward, 2 Jye Hawkins, 1 Trent Elson
