In round two of the 2012 Group 19 rugby league season, everyone was a winner at Armidale’s Rugby League Park on Saturday, when the Armidale Rams and Moree Boomerangs 1st grade game ended in a 34 all draw.
The Boomerangs kicked the game off, after a minute of silence for locals Mitch and Tara Cooper’s son Aidan.
The Ram’s John Roberts quickly claimed the first points. Clarrie Moran converted his try.
The Boomerang’s Captain, Jeremy Smith, led by example, with his side’s first try. It was converted by Travis Cook.
Craig McKenzie crossed the line for the Boomers and Wayne Swan converted, achieving a short-lived lead.
Armidale’s Alistair Faulkner went off with his left knee in a bad way. It was the first of three Rams injuries that stopped the clock. Injecting some momentum, Clarrie Moran scored then converted his own try. A Paul Quinlan try came next for the Rams, with the conversion off the mark. John Robert’s try was again converted by Clarrie Moran, placing the Armidale Rams ahead, 22 points to 12, at half-time.
Boomerang, Shannon Swan dived in for the first try of the second half, but the conversion failed. Then, the Ram’s Geoff Swan scored a try, which was converted by Clarrie Moran.
Boomerang Jamie Sampson’s try came after a solo sprint of almost half the field and concluded with a triumphant dive behind the posts. Wayne Swan converted. Travis Cook racked up another try for the Boomerangs and Wayne Swan’s conversion showed his kicking is more reliable than Treasury Department projections. The score was even, at 28 points apiece.
Clarrie Moran scored a try for the Rams after an intercept and a near half-field dash. Geoff Swan converted.
Lucky 13 for the Boomerangs, Warren Cain’s try converted by Wayne Swan returned the game to parity. The 34 – 34 score was a true reflection of the game.
The game was off the back of a humbling defeat of Armidale by Guyra. Meanwhile, the Moree side suffered a mere two-point loss to the Glen Innes Magpies in the previous round.
Story: Gary Fry
