Valleys traveled to Brothers Junior Rugby League grounds currently in 6th position (eight teams in comp) to take on Brothers currently in 4th position. Valleys were at full strength and were keen to keep improving in implementing our game plan.
In the first half, possession and 50-50 calls favoured Brothers and they ran in 5 tries, converting 2 of them to lead 24 – 0. Centre Adrian Mann tackled everyone who ran at him and ran powerfully when presented with an opportunity. Brandon Biles led from the front, leaving a mark on number of Brothers players ensuring they would be looking for him in the second half, both in attack and defense. Brendan Manteit put a couple of big hits on some of the Brothers forward, rattling them a little and letting them know it was not going to be an easy win for them. All players tried hard, things just didn’t go our way. Two times from kick-offs, Valleys players, Bevan Fry and Jordan Fisher, forced knock-ons with clever kicking options from re-starts.
In the second half, with a greater determination and willingness in defense, Valleys players came out with a goal; it was to ensure Brothers remained scoreless. Strong runs from Bevan Fry, Mason Tuitoga , Eli Charles-Tanner and Connor Taylor saw Valleys go forward in attack while with some astute dummy half runs from Thomas Berrysaw Valleys continue to push forward. Five-eight Jordan Fisher continued to run at the line looking to make line-breaks as Valleys continued to build pressure on Brothers. Jordan Lawson-Grant ran strongly, taking some big hits on the chin, while Sebastin Trent-Currieand Byron Washington locked up the wings, along with Riley Chapman in the centres which ensured that Brothers struggled to run around us and make ground, forcing them into mistakes. Logan Brown replaced Thomas Berry midway through the first and second half and provided good dummy half options with his passing from dummy half. Matty Allen looked continually to provide good service to his forwards, enabling courageous captain Brandon Biles,who continued to throw himself at the Brothers defensive line, to eventually break through and carry four defenders over the line with him to make the score 24 – 4. Unfortunately, Jordan Fisher narrowly missed the conversion from out wide with fifteen minutes remaining in the second half. With continued pressure, Valleys pushed forward and a flying Claude Sypher latched onto a clever cross-field kick to power his way over the line and register Valleys second try. Jordan Fisher made no mistake with conversion and with around seven minutes left on the clock, the score was 24 – 10. The Valleys boys threw themselves into scoring again but time beat them. They had achieved their goal of keeping Brothers scoreless in the second half. Well done boys.
After a slow start in the first half, Valleys turned it around in the second half going down to Brothers 24-10. Adrian Mann was awarded 3 points for his aggressive running and brick wall-like defense. Brendon Biles was awarded two points with his block-busting runs and bone-rattling defense with Brendan Manteit awarded one point on the back of his positional play, strong runs and bone-crunching tackles. Players who narrowly missed out on points were Bevan Fry, Sebastin Trent-Currie, Jordan Lawson-Grant, Byron Washington and Mason Tuitoga.
Todd (Coach), Tim (Trainer) and I (Assistant Coach) would like to make special mention of the parents of the U13 Valleys Rugby League Team who have been very positive towards the boys. We have been working hard on our game plan and have struggled at times in some games. It has been great to be involved with a club where the parents are totally supportive of their boys, continue to praise them for their effort and attitude and are focused on their continual improvement as rugby league players. We have made good progress and I’m sure that we will continue to improve. The boys are starting to believe in themselves and are becoming more confident in implementing our game plan. Please … watch this space!!!!!!!!!
