THE Walcha Roos went within a whisker of winning their first Group 19 Second Division game of the 2018 season when they went down to Guyra 32-26 in an often-spiteful game here at the Park last Sunday. Referee Ben Lewis was none too happy with the “Super Spuds” tactics at times, caning them 15-1 in the penalty count.

MIDWAY through the first half, Roos backrower Max Abraham was spear-tackled on halfway in front of the western side crowd, and how the Guyra player who carried out the offence remained on the field is anyone’s guess. From where I was in the scorer’s box, the incident was certainly not a good look for rugby league. Thankfully, Max escaped with no ill effects.

JILLAROOS captain Robyn Broadbent was at her scheming best last Sunday, scoring a try and setting plenty of others up while landing five conversions just for good measure.

SHE picked up three group and two club best and fairest points for her performance along with the players’ player award for just the second time as a member of the Jillaroos, despite being their most consistent player since she joined the team in 2014.

THE Jillaroos raced over for nine tries with Bonnie Brown, Jordyn Hoy and her sister Nicola all scoring a brace each. Not to be outdone by her younger siblings, Bec Hoy also touched down along with Ruth France, who weaved a bit of magic from a penalty tap kick close to the Guyra tryline.

WELL done to the six Walcha junior rugby union players who represented Central North earlier this month in four different age groups. Walker Harrison (under 16s), Ben Burwell and Joe Kermode (under 15s), Eugene Campbell (under 14s), Ollie Greig and Darcy Macpherson (under 11s) all played in the recent Country Championships while Zac Young (under 11s) and Matty Tisdell (under 15s) were also selected but were unable to compete due to injury.

CONGRATULATIONS to the four Walcha Central School athletes who have qualified for the state championships in cross country. Las week at Coolah, Jemma Warden won her event, Steph Blake ran third in her event, and Emily Blake and Bella Crawford finished fourth. Good on ya, girls.

ALSO representing Walcha at Coolah were Hamish “Hammer” Warden, Harriet Crawford and Preston Latham who all performed well but missed out on going to the next level. Well done, guys, just the same.

WALCHA were narrowly defeated 32-26 by Guyra in their Group 19 Second Division match at the Park last Sunday, where the result could have gone either way.

The Roos were first team off the mark when winger Dean Kelly collected a long pass from Troy Yarnold off his bootlaces. Kelly then managed to touch down in the scoreboard corner after 15 minutes.

Midway through the stanza, Guyra retaliated with an unconverted try before centre Jock Abraham gave the Roos the lead again shortly after his brother Max was spear-tackled and the home side received a penalty.

Hooker Drew Bird converted before Guyra bounced back to level the scores with a converted try five minutes later, and then took the lead right on half-time with another converted try.

Spectators had barely regained their seats when Abraham cruised over off a good inside pass from Yarnold which was converted by Kelly. A few minutes later, Guyra capitalised on some ordinary Roos goal-line defence to score a converted try.

At the 10 minute mark of the second half, Max Abraham stepped through and then bulldozed his way over next to the posts before Bird raised the flags with a trick shot off the upright to tie up the game at 22-22.

A mistake from the kickoff from the Roos invited Guyra back into the lead which the visitors accepted within six tackles and held until halfback Andrew Kelly dived on a Yarnold grubber kick to level the scores at 26-26.

The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

With 10 minutes to go, Guyra finalised the scoring with a converted try. Both teams had their chances, but the visitors hung on against a 12-man Roos outfit after prop Josh Lordanic was sin-binned late in the match.

The game marked the return to football by Ben Green who made his comeback after suffering an horrific lower leg injury at the end of last season.

Best and fairest points: Club 3 Andrew Kelly, 2 Jack Abraham, 1 Jayden Harrison.

This weekend, the Roos and Jillaroos will travel to Warialda to take on the Wombats.