By Casey OÇonnor
The Texas Terriers Open men’s side are snapping at the heels of second placed Inglewood after scoring a gutsy win 16-10 against the Roosters in their round seven Border Rivers Men’s clash on Saturday, at the McIntyre Sports Complex Oval, Inglewood.
It was significant win for the Terriers who have been the big improvers in the 2022 competition.
Texas scored shortly after kick off to take a four-nil lead. The Terriers held off a strong Roosters attack with some fierce defence and held to take their four-point advantage into half-time.
The visitors stunned the parochial home crowd when they score two tries in the space of five minutes early in the second half.
Terriers halfback Tyson Dunn was the first to score. The conversion was unsuccessful, but the Terriers still extended their lead to eight-nil. Within in minutes the Terriers were in again, this time a successful conversion allowed them to run out to a 14-nil lead.
The Terriers added to their tally again when some undisciplined Roosters play handed them a shot at a penalty goal extending their lead to 16 -0.
However, the visitors didn’t have it all their own way and spurred on by scoreboard pressure and the Roosters home crowd, Inglewood responded came back with veteran Brent Hearne putting his side on the board with an unconverted try in the 64th minute.
When Roosters interchange player Matt West scored minutes later and Hearne converted, it was game on at 16-10.
A Roosters comeback was on the cards.
The remaining 12 minutes saw the game swing from end-to-end but the defence of both sides could not be cracked and when the fulltime siren sounded it was 16-10 in favour of the Terriers who after seven rounds sit in third spot one point behind the Roosters and in good form.
Jordan Wotherspoon was named players player.
The Terriers face a tough task this weekend when they play top of the table Tenterfield
In the earlier Ladies League Tag game Indiah Loy starred in the Foxy Terriers 24-8 win. Loy scored two tries and kicked four from four goals. Amelia Stevenson and Ally Rowe were the other try scorers for the Terriers.
Tara-Jae Mudge and Shakara Amato the lone try scorers for the Roosters girls. Kyasia Sunderland was named Terriers Players player .
At Sullivan Oval the Stanthorpe Gremlins men’s side were scheduled to host the Tenterfield Tigers but forfeited the game in what must be a worrying sign for officials.
This Saturday the Gremlins are scheduled to travel to Inglewood for their round eight clash.
In the Ladies League Tag game, the Tigers outclassed the home side running in a procession of tries from the kick off. At the half time break the visitors held an unassailable 28-4 lead. The Gremlins only try coming in the 16th minute of the half. The Tigers kept up the intensity in the second half
scoring another 16 points before full time. The final score 44-4.
The Tenterfield League Tag teams have been the benchmark since the competition’s inception and they continue to lead the way in 2022.
