ABEL Carney was a stunned young fullback as he sipped a refreshing drink outside the North Tamworth Bear changing rooms following his side’s first round win over Narrabri Blues on Sunday, May 1.
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The talented back who can play any position and kick goals as well, grew a large smile when told he’d been awarded the three points by the referees in his side’s 30-4 win over Narrabri Blues.
He just grinned, shrugged and thought any one of the hard working Bears’ pack could and should have snared the award on a day where the welcome rain muddied up the field negating a lot of the open play.
“I think it was between them,” he said of his forward pack and what he thought would have been the fairest best and fairest points.
“It was one of those games, you couldn’t single anyone out.
“We tried to go wide too early and had to shorten it up and work our way forward in the wet.
“It was just good to get the two points in these conditions. They backed themselves too, the mud was a real leveller, but it was a good way for us to start.”
While the Bears fullback polled the three points, Narrabri hooker Jacob Nichols was a deserving recipient of the two points and Bears’ lock Nic Dobson grabbed the one.
Nichols, for a “skinny kid”, packs some venom in his tackles and finished off a few Bears in authoritative manner.
So too did Sam Saddler until the stocky backrower injured a right ankle in the second half.
They were among Narrabri’s best, said captain-coach Lachlan Cameron.
“Sam is a special player,” Cameron said.
“He’s still only a teenager. He always takes it up and tackles well. He just tries his heart out each game.”
Another young star, Callum Hayne, polled the three points at Gunnedah when the Bulldogs began their season with a 38-20 win over Oxley Diggers.
Hayne, who starred for Norths at fullback last season, is back home and crossed for two tries for the Bulldogs on Sunday.
Oxley Diggers captain-coach Tim Coombes received the two points and Group 4 backrower Danny Read polled the point for the Bulldogs.
In the first round game at Armidale Rugby League Park, West Lions welcomed the Rams into their first official first grade game with a 102-6 flogging.
Sam Taylor was a star, scoring five tries and booting 15 goals for 50-point tally.
Armidale’s Moses Malual received the two points and Zachary Nigro the one.
The Lions crossed for 16 tries with Chris Dillon, Dylan Lake and Smith scoring doubles for the Shane Rampling-coached side.
This weekend Armidale travels to Gunnedah, Narrabri hosts the West Lions and Oxley Diggers play North Tamworth in a local derby.
o All Group 4 first and second division as well Group 19 clubs should fax or e-mail their score sheets after every home game to The Leader. No sheets, no coverage.