WALCHA opened their Group 4 Second Division season with two good tries over Barraba at the Park last Saturday where the Roos won 28-18 and the Jillaroos were victorious 24-0.
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The main game was only two minutes old when lock forward Lachlan Brown found his way over the try line and then midway through the opening session he repeated the dose.
Winger Daniel Harrison who has taken over the goal kicking duties raised the flags on both occasions to give the Roos a handy 12-0 lead a quarter of the way through the match.
Barraba bounced back to score two converted tries within five minutes of each other to level the scores before centre Lee Harrison raced through a yarning gap created by skipper Troy Yarnold to score under the posts.
Kicker Harrison once again converted and then two minutes later Brown completed his hat trick to give the Roos a 22-12 half time advantage.
Five minutes after oranges centre Jock Abraham forced his way over in the kiosk corner and except for a penalty goal to Yarnold shortly after that was the end of the Roos scoring.
Barraba crossed for a converted try and then with a few minutes remaining knocked on over the line which could have provided an interesting end to the game if they had scored.
Brown was rewarded for his outstanding game with three group best and fairest points, three club best and fairest points and he players’ player award.
Front rower Mitch Eveleigh was powerful in both attack and defence with one of the highlights a barn storming run where he left opposition centre Zac Mallise a bit worse for wear. Eveleigh received two club best and fairest points while halfback Jason Latham picked up two group best and fairest and one club point after his solid all-rounder performance.
Up front Max Abraham, Lachie Laurie, Robert Smith, Brett Beard and Ben Green all ran the ball hard making ground on numerous occasions.
Hooker Ben Moran was busy through the game, utility player Glen Olrich lifted the tempo when he went on and Dean Kelly had his hands full at fullback after replacing Bevan Woods but defused a number of opposition scoring opportunities.
Outside backs Jayden Harrison, Corey Jamieson and Adam Patterson received limited chances but no doubt their time will come. Coaches Ron Latham and Gary Natty were both happy with the Roos first-up hit out, but realise there is still plenty of room for improvement.