By MATT NICHOLLS
ARMIDALE buckled in the heat to lose to Group 19 rugby league newcomers Goondiwindi on Saturday.
After a four-hour bus trip to the Queensland border town, the Rams were found wanting against the Boars, losing 44-18.
Armidale president Terry Carson said the visitors only had themselves to blame.
“I think we lost it more than they won it,” he said.
“We dropped a lot of ball and couldn’t gain any territory.”
The Rams trailed 18-6 at half-time before the Boars put the foot down in the second half.
Lock Sean Collins scored two of Armidale’s tries, while Fijian big man Apakuki Mate crossed for the other.
Fred Waters converted all three tries.
Carson said English hooker Jamie Smith was the Rams’ best, along with Mate and five-eighth Mitch Cooper.
“We picked up another couple of injuries, so having a week off will be nice,” he said.
“We’re looking forward to our first home game against Inverell on Anzac Day weekend.”
The Rams, who are 1-1, should start hot favourites against the Hawks, who lost 60-18 to the Moree Boomerangs on Saturday.
RESULTS
First grade: Goondiwindi 44 d Armidale 18 (Tries: Sean Collins 2, Apakuki Mate. Goals: Fred Waters 3); Tingha 46 d Uralla 28 (Tries: Aaron Gordon 2, Barry Vale, Fred Campbell, Zac Brown. Goals: Lewis Ahoy 4); Moree Boomerangs 60 d Inverell 18; Moree Boars 52 d Ashford 18.
Reserve grade: Armidale 38 (Tries: Kua Swan 2, Anthony Strong, Soane Vahai, Vincent Moran, Graham Smith, Mitch Hawkins. Goals: Strong 5) d Goondiwindi 34; Tingha 60 d Uralla 12 (Tries: Justin Ahoy, Noah Khan. Goals: Ahoy 2); Moree Boomerangs 58 d Inverell 18; Moree Boars 28 d Ashford 26.
Under-18s: Uralla 48 (Tries: Ethan Calless 2, Jordan Press 2, John Boy Quinlan, Sam Press, Lee Harrison, Trane Moran, Tom Moran. Goals: Fred Campbell 6) d Tingha 0; No other scores supplied.
League tag: Goondiwindi 26 d Armidale 18 (Tries: Hayley Ford, Ashley Strong, Cynthia Moran, Alice Dennison. Goals: Dennison 1); Uralla 28 (Tries: Bea Roberts 2, Hanna Archibald 2, Amy Barraclough. Goals: Barraclough 4) d Tingha 4; Moree Boomerangs 20 d Inverell 0; Ashford 20 d Moree Boars 10.
