Hywel David
It was a mixed day out at Pioneer Park in Wollongbar-Alstonville on a sunny Saturday, with the Rebels colts and women’s rugby union sides delivering strong victories before the men’s XV endured a bruising second half that saw the Pioneers run away with a commanding win.
A good start
The Colts got the day off to a bright start, running out 27-12 winners. Tucker Groves, Tully Radburn, George Morgan, and Benjamin Morgan all bagged tries, with Aiden Broadhurst reliable with the boot via two conversions and a penalty.
Groves took home Man of the Match honours for a tireless display. The women’s side went one better, putting on a 37-14 clinic with Kari Massey the undisputed star – scoring twice, converting twice and slotting a penalty to claim Player of the Match in a dominant team performance. Rosalie Tranier, Evie Eastwell and Lora-Jean Damen also crossed for the Rebels women.
Turn of the tide
The men’s XV began the afternoon at Pioneer Park and early signs were promising, though the Pioneers made their intentions clear from the outset.
A well-worked Wollongbar try at ten minutes, the product of sustained pressure and a jackal, put the Rebels on the back foot. Three minutes later, misfortune struck when a loose kick wasn’t gathered by fullback Valpy, and in the scramble an opposition player’s boot connected with Valpy’s head, leaving him concussed and unable to continue.
The referee played on, and Wollongbar converted the chaos into points. Jamie Bell came on at wing, with Finnian Reynolds shifting to fullback.
Further pressure followed. Luke Cleaver copped a shoulder to the head and was replaced at nine by Logan McLellan, and the Pioneers’ aerial game continued to pin the Rebels deep.
A third try conceded out wide at 25 minutes made it 19-0 before the Rebels responded. Luc Lévêque offloaded to Michael Robinson, who grounded it at 31 minutes. Hawkins converted, and the Rebels went to the break trailing 19-7 with their defence holding firm despite the pressure.
The second half, unravelled quickly. Lévêque departed with concussion and David Flynn went off with a leg injury, with Hywel David and Huw Kramer introduced.
The Pioneers’ number 11 broke through the line for a try, followed by Wollongbar going wide in open play to score again. A kick into the Rebels’ 22 produced a turnover and another five points, the Pioneers sliced through again – four unanswered tries that turned a contest into a rout. Michael Robinson came off for Dylan Turner
Cory Stocks received a red card for a shoulder to the head in a ruck, leaving the Rebels a man down for the remainder of the game. Wollongbar punished the Rebels, adding a penalty and two further tries in open play to complete a 62-7 final scoreline.
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