The Byron Rebel’s stormy rugby season continued last Saturday, as both the women’s and men’s first grade teams played away at Casuarina Beach against the Barbarians.
Despite great camaraderie between the women’s sides, there was no holding back during their encounter, that saw a final score of five all.
The first half was an arm wrestle, with play moving back and forth between the 22-metre lines and neither side able to penetrate the opposition’s determined defence. Nil all at half time.
The second half was just as intense, but some handling and defensive errors started to open up scoring opportunities for both sides. The Barbarians scored first with an unconverted try, but the Rebels hit back with a try to Keely Arnold.
The conversion would give our girls the lead with not long to play… but where was the kicking tee? It had been left somewhere in the sheds.
Kari Massey had no option but to try for a drop goal. She struck it well, but it went wide of the posts to leave the scores tied at five all.
After another intense period of play, the final whistle blew with no change to the score. A 5–5 draw was probably a fair outcome to a great game.
Men’s first grade
The tight, intense contest of the women’s game was magnified in the men’s first grade match, which the Rebels lost 35-33 on the hooter.
The Rebels’ scrum was a weapon that the Barbarians simply couldn’t counter, but they showed flashes of classy play in the backs.
Each team was able to apply pressure and collect points and the lead ebbed and flowed, until the Barbarians were able to bullock their way over the line on the stroke of full time locking the scores at 33 all, with the kick to come.
This time the ball did go between the posts to give the Barbarians the win 35-33.
It was the second week in a row that the Rebels lost a match in the dying seconds of the game.
The result leaves the Rebels men sitting outside the top four behind Wollongbar Alstonville, Ballina, Casuarina and Casino.
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