The Tumut Bulls were expected to trample the Albury Steamers at Jarrah Sportsground on Saturday, and that’s pretty much what they did, winning 52-10.
In conditions that could only be described as Antarctic, except with rain instead of snow, the match was shortened, and this and the conditions and heavy track kept the scoreline below what it could have been. The Steamers didn’t throw the towel in; and scored two tries late in the match.
Other than that, the Bulls dominated from start to finish, and coach Jon Carmody was “pretty happy” with their performance.
“The main thing was that I told them to stick to the game plan and they did, which was good to see,” he said.
The Bulls attacked the ball with gusto and valued possession.
Carmody said his team had plenty of good performers on the day.
“Will Kingwill, Jona; everyone was pretty good; Aidan (Thomas), Lewis Simister,” he said.
Simister, from Manchester, England, felt right at home in the conditions.
“The conditions were perfect in my eyes,” he said. “Lovely weather for a lovely game of rugby. Couldn’t have asked for a better day.”
Albury are having a very tough year, and had to forfeit the second grade match. Tumut lent them players including Sam Kava and Seka Druma, to make up numbers in first grade.
“We didn’t go as hard as we could’ve on them, but they went as hard as they could on us,” Carmody said.
The Bulls suffered no injuries, and the match was a good tonic after last week’s loss.
“It was good to get a bit of confidence back because we had lacked a bit.”
The Bulls will take the same team into the next match against Wagga City in Wagga, with the exception of James Weston, who will be away.
The Bullettes scored an equally convincing 47-5 win over Albury.
It was enough of an achievement that this game was played at all, and Tumut also lent a player to make up numbers for Albury.
“There was a bit of give and take from both teams to get a game,” Bullettes coach Kylie Jensen said.
The conditions heavy ground kept the scoreline down in this match as well.
“It was definitely the worst conditions we have played in this year,” Jensen said.
It gets more serious for the Bullettes with this weekend’s final-round match against Wagga City.
“We will start getting back to full contingent, which is good,” Jensen said.
“We don’t have to win to maintain third place but it is still important to win going into the finals,” she said.
It was the Tumut’s Old Boys Day on Saturday, and they still got good numbers to the games despite the worst conditions the Bulls have played in all year.
“We got a decent crowd for what the day was like,” Carmody said.
The club held its major fundraiser for the year, the golf ball drop. In the end, the club successfully sold the 1000 ball quota and the club thanked everyone who contributed to the ball drop. Money raised will be put towards the upkeep of Jarrah Oval, player registration and welfare and the everyday running of the Tumut Bulls rugby club. $5000 will be donated to local cancer charity, CanAssist.
The helicopter drop was cancelled due to the weather so National Cranes came to the rescue.
“A huge thank you to Phil Owers at National Cranes, for the donation of the crane hire,” the Bulls’ Mat Chapman said.
Thanks to Ted Clarke and the Tumut Golf Club, for the installation of the golf hole and donation of the golf flag and Deb Robinson, Lyn and Chelsea Withers for assisting with the judging of the ball drop, on behalf of CanAssist. Thanks to all local businesses and local radio station, Sounds of the Mountains, who promoted and supported our initiative. Once again, a massive thank you for the generosity of all the general public for your contribution towards the Tumut Bulls’ ball drop.”
First prize was split between three prize winners as three balls landed in the hole. As a result, first, second and third prize money were pooled and then split to make 3 x $6000 prizes.
