Centrals keep title dream alive

The Centrals Tigers have kept their finals hopes alive with a gritty eight point victory over the University Saints in Round 17 of the Townsville and District Rugby League competition.

It was a physical match from the start with both teams throwing everything they could at each other but it was the Tigers who muscled up in defence in the second half to outlast the Saints 40-32 in a high scoring game.  

The Saints started well with their young side showing plenty of enthusiasm in attack early and had the Tigers on the ropes during stages of the first half but were unable to close out the match.  

The Tigers defence dug deep and on the back of some crucial refereeing decisions were able to withstand the Saints pressure going into the break.  

In the second half it looked more like the Tigers who were going to rip the game open and on the back of some excellent kicking by their halves were able to get good field possession and subsequently turned that pressure into points.  

James Lennox was in great form for the Tigers bagging a double.  The win keeps the Tigers in fourth place ahead of an important clash next week with league leaders the Herbert River Crushers. 

A GRADE

NORTHS 26 (Tries: Jack Boniface 1, Wayne Ulugia 1, Dan Clarke 2, Nic Brown 1 Goals: Mitch Grimes 3) DEF BURDEKIN 24 (Tries: Ranier Power 1, Ben Cavanagh 1, Brad Hunt 1, Temone Power 1, Thomas Bhana 1, Goals: Ben Cavanaugh 2)

CENTRALS 40 (Tries: Jesse Pomare Anderson 1, Grant Kennedy 1, Addo Waianga 1, Nelson Donaldson 1, Jai Wisley 1, James Lennox 2, David Nawia 1, Goals: Taiby Doolah 1, Jesse Pomare Anderson 3) DEF UNIVERSITY 32 (Tries: Daniel Pickering 2, Tristan Nelliman-Adams 1, Anthony Toby 1, Scott Evans 1, Ricky Bourke 1, Goals: Daniel Pickering 4)

CHARTERS TOWES 28 (Tries: Jon Crawley 2, Scott Schulte 3, Goals: Mitch Burton 2, Adam Shaw 2) DEF HERBERT RIVER 27 (Tries: Troy Menegon 1, Matthew Harvey 1, Aaron Solari 2, Damon Cockburn 1, Goals: Mitchell Seri 3, Field Goal: Mitchell Seri 1)

RESERVE GRADE

NORTHS 38 (Tries: Josh Tyshing 1, Hayden Lavarack 1, Jordan Lowth 1 Carl Van Stelten 1, Clinton Pearson 1, Jamie Faint 1, Graham Tranby 4, Berrin Charles 1) DEF BURDEKIN 18 (Tries: Jake Henaway 1, Lawrence Henaway 1, Ben Bonnano 1, Goals: Aiden Lampton 2, Aiden Taiters 1)

UNIVERSITY 24 (Tries: Thomas Schwarts 1, Adrian Doig 1, Sean Evans 1, Shane Hackett 2, Goals: Simon Burgoyne 1, Zac Anderson 1) DEF CENTRALS 12 (Tries: Justin Greenaway 2, Troye Morgan 1)

CHARTERS TOWERS 20 (Tries: Kienan Kerr 2, Nick Giakoumi 1, Ben Prescott 1, Goals: Keinan Kerr 2) DEF HERBERT RIVER 14 (Tries: Mick Skipper 2, Jay Harvat 1, Goals: Mick Skipper 1)

UNDER 18

CENTRALS won on forfeit by UNIVERSITY

NORTHS 20 (Tries: Jordan Bowman 1, Justin Cassidy 1, Layton Gay 1 Nat Luby 1, Goals: Kyle Brock 2) DEF BURDEKIN 18 (Tries: Nathan Rickards 2, Xavier Miller 1, Leigh McArdie 1, Goals: Nathan Swindley 1)

HERBERT RIVER 28 (Tries: Terry Waia 3, Karl Spano 1, David Casale 1, Goals: Dylan Gaggiano 4) DEF CHARTERS TOWERS 12 (Tries: Brandon Reed 1, Loky Payne 1, Goals: Connor  Moxham 2)