Country RL - Bush Telegraph #16

Issue #16

AAMI COUNTRY V CITY FINISHES IN A THRILLING DRAW

Courtesy:- www.nswrl.com.au

Three tries in an amazing final five minutes has seen City snatch a thrilling 26-all draw with Country at Caltex Park in Dubbo today.

Parramatta Eels Centre Will Hopoate scored with less than five seconds remaining on the clock to allow Adam Reynolds to kick the match levelling conversion in one of the best ever finishes to a Country v City fixture.

Entering the match as underdogs, it was Country who opened the scoring in the 10th minute with Captain Beau Scott freeing his arms to allow David Mead to score beside the posts for an early 6-0 lead.

Not to be outdone by his opposing fullback, City custodian Matt Moylan produced a piece of magic when he latched onto an Andrew Fifita offload and exploded into open space before executing a perfectly weighted kick for Josh Reynolds to score a brilliant team try.

City stole the lead moments later when Adam Reynolds showed off his kicking skills to find a flying Daniel Tupou to touch down and lead 10-6 after 25 minutes.

Kevin Gordon was the next player to score on debut when he touched down in the corner to level the game and when Jarrod Mullen kicked a 40/20 to put his side in a the perfect position to score; it was his Knights teammate Tyrone Roberts who made the City defence pay with a short ball to Mead to score his second for a 16-10 half- time lead.

With both sides fighting hard to gain the upper hand in the early stages of the second half, it was City who were applying all the pressure with repeated sets on the opposition line. However, the Country defence held firm and when they finally got some field position it was Jamal Idris who came up with the big play, latching onto a cross field kick to extend the lead to 22-10 after 60 minutes.

The big Penrith Panther was at it again minutes later when he steamrolled Dylan Walker to put James McManus over for what appeared to be the match winning try and a 26-10 lead after 70 minutes.

When Andrew Fifita crossed with five minutes on the clock, only the most pessimistic of Country fans would have been shifting in their seats, but when Will Hopoate offloaded to Daniel Tupou for the Roosters winger to tip-toe along the sideline and plant the ball down in the 78th minute and reduce the defecit to six points, Country fans were beginning to feel nervous.

It was then that man again, Will Hopoate, who broke Country hearts with a brilliant run after great lead up work from Dylan Walker to level the game and cap off a great game by both teams.

History will show that Country retained the shield after last year's victory, but both fans will have left feeling pleased with what they had just witnessed.

Special mention goes to the people of Dubbo for their hospitality in what was an extremely enjoyable week for everyone involved from fans right through to the players.

Country 26 (D Mead 2, J McManus, K Gordan, J Idris tries; T Roberts 3 goals) drew with City 26(Tupou 2, J Reynolds, A Fifita, W Hopoate tries; A Reynolds 3 goals)

BINALONG BRAHMANS RLFC REUNION

The Binalong Brahmans RLFC will be hosting a Binalong Football Club Reunion on Saturday 24th May. The weekend's activities will commence at the Binalong Rec Oval with the George Tooke Shield Round 4 clash between the 2013 premiers Binalong, and local rivals the Harden Hawks. The day starts at 1pm with a Masters game, 1.30pm Ladies Touch and the main game kick-off is at 2.30pm.

This will be followed by an evening at the Binalong Golf Club with guest speakers, auctions of sporting memorabilia and no doubt plenty of stories shared of deeds past.

The evening starts from 6.00pm and costs $30 per head. Tickets can be pre-purchased from the Binalong Post Office or through the club on 0427 688 803. Tickets can be paid for at the door, however, please ensure that you pre-purchase or book your ticket by 14 May for catering purposes.

Sunday morning there will be a BBQ breakfast from 8.30am at the Binalong Rec Oval for those still wanting to continue to reminisce.

I'm sure there will be many stories shared with past and present players, strappers, water runners, committee members and volunteers that have all worked hard to keep Rugby League in Binalong for so many years.

Please pass this information onto everyone you know that may want to come to this great catch up.

AAMI LUCKY FUND WINNERS

This year marks 10 years since AAMI proudly partnered with NSW Country Rugby League and that support continues in 2014 with a new look AAMI Grants Scheme.

The AAMI Lucky Fund is open to any club within the CRL, and anyone can nominate. Tell us about your club's hard work and how AAMI can turn unlucky into lucky with the AAMI Lucky Fund.

At the end of each week one club will receive a grant of up to $1250 courtesy of AAMI - New uniforms, training equipment, upgrade of facilities - imagine what the AAMI Lucky Fund could mean to your club.

Our first winners for the 2014 AAMI Lucky Fund are:

• Karuah Kangaroos - to upgrade ground and canteen facilities and purchase training equipment
• Bega Minor League - to replace canteen equipment damaged in a fire
• Narellan Jets JRL - to purchase a new sprinkler system after theirs was unexpectedly stolen

Each club will receive $1250 towards these items once they have been purchased - to nominate your club, please go to www.CRLNSW.com.au and click on the AAMI Lucky Fund link.