Clarence Valley News
Rebels top table after crushing win
Rebels top table after crushing win
By Tim Howard
The South Grafton Rebels have seized top spot in the Group 2 Rugby League competition and local derby bragging rights with a devastating 80-minute display to down the Grafton Ghosts 34-0.
In what most were saying was their best 80 minutes of football this season, the Rebels piled on five unanswered tries and dominated field position for much of the game.
If it had not been for the Ghosts willing defensive effort, the scoreline could have passed 50.
The game opened with both sides trading big shots as the forward packs struggled for dominance.
The Ghosts big boppers Adam Slater and Mitch Garrett were also busy in attack with Slater running powerfully and Garbutt finding some space to offload.
But the Rebels defenders held the line with some breathtaking hits which forced some key turnovers and kept the Ghosts pinned in their half for most of the first half.
After about 17 minutes of softening up, the Rebels finally punished the Ghosts for a handling error with a skilfully worked play from the base of a scrum about 35m out and slightly to the left of the uprights.
A slick pass from the scrum base put centre James Torrens on the outside of his defender which pulled the Grafton winger to him.
Ghosts fullback Cooper Woods gets airborne as he attempts to catch a Hugh Stanley bomb during Sunday’s local derby clash with the South Grafton Rebels at Frank McGuren Field. Rebels centre Nick McGrady was competing for the ball.
Torrens timed his pass to winger Jamal Laurie to perfection and he sprinted down the sideline and around to the posts to score. Nick McGrady converted for the 6-0 scoreline.
The Ghosts came close to a quick reply when a penalty for a late tackle put them on attack on the Rebels line.
Gun centre Dylan Collett had a shot at the line but some resolute defence forced the ball loose on the line.
Both teams hurled themselves at the line and the defenders responded with some tackles that had the referee reaching for his whistle.
Slater and Garbutt were penalised for inverting Aidan Hyland and a few minutes later Collett was penalised for flipping Nick McGrady in a tackle which saw him land heavily on his neck and stay down for a few minutes.
The Rebels were also guilty of similar offences, but the referee chose to keep the sin bin empty.
Although defending for the most of the half, the Ghosts would have been happy with the 6-0 scoreline as half time drew near.
But the Rebels were not to be denied and when winger Liam Bloomer fumbled a well-judged kick from Hugh Stanley, Torrens found the ball in his hands and raced around behind the sticks to score.
Ahead 12-0 at half time, the crowd were waiting for the Ghosts comeback and Collett came close again when a chip kick from five-eighth Rhys Hambly almost stuck as it bounced awkwardly in the left corner.
But it was the Rebels who struck next when fullback Keiron Johnson-Heron broke through some flimsy tackles and found Torrens backing up on his outside.
Put into the clear Torrens raced 40 metres to score under the posts, giving McGrady another easy shot at conversion.
Despite the scoreline, there was still plenty of sting going into the defence as the Ghosts tried to fight their way back into the game
But it was the the Rebels who benefited when a hard shot from Garbutt slipped up, giving McGrady a shot at goal from in front to make the score 20-0.
The decision nearly backfired when the Ghosts found touch from the kick off and second rower Dan Shipman was held up over the line a few plays later.
But some dropped ball and penalties gave up field position to the Rebels and their best on field Stanley had the team’s supporters cheering when a deft pass put favourite son Grant Stevens over for a try to the right of the posts.
At 26-0 in front the game was out of reach for the Ghosts, but with 20 minutes to go, the Ghosts were desperate to avoid a blow out.
Typical of their day, the Rebels last try came when the Ghosts charged down half back Keaton Stutt’s kick ahead, but it bounced straight into his hands and he ran under the posts waving his hand in the air in triumph before touching down.
The Rebels continued to press until the end when the Ghosts defence was caught offside, McGrady slotted a penalty right on full time to make the score 34-0.
The South Grafton Rebels and members of the family of Viv Hodge, celebrate the Rebels winning the Viv Hodge Memorial Trophy with a 34-0 win over the Ghosts at Frank McGuren Field on Sunday.
After the game a delighted Stevens said the Rebels were finally putting together a full 80 minute effort.
“We’re starting to get back to the feeling we had at the back end of last season,” he said.
He was proud of the way the Rebels improved their discipline from recent games, which kept pressure on the Ghosts.
“It was very fast and physical game,” he said “Our game plan was to suffocate their attack and that’s what were able to do.”
Rebels coach Ron Gordon said rated the effort equal to the 30-6 win over highly rated Macksville in May.
He sang the praises of Stanley who ran the game faultlessly in the number 6 jersey.
“That was the best game I’ve seen from Hughie in a couple of years,” he said.
But the Rebels were well served across the park, beginning at the back when new team captain Keiron Johnson-Heron was masterful with his catching, kick returns and backing up.
Gordon said he appointed Johnson-Heron to the role when Stevens was injured against the Ghosts and decided to leave him in the role as Stevens resumed playing off the bench.
Teenage half Stutt was again dynamic in defence and attack and in the centres Torrens and Nick McGrady nullified the threat from Collett and did plenty of damage themselves.
In the forwards there was not a weak link with the back row of Hyland, Luke Walker, Stevens and Nick Torrens smashing their opposite numbers.
Up front hooker James Olivero was always a threat around the ruck and props Bailey Sinclair and Lionel Johnson were rock solid in attack and defence.
For the Ghosts, who have now conceded 80 points in the last two games, the soul searching will begin next week and there won’t be an easy answer as the Coffs Comets await them away.
Rebels defenders shut down dangerous Ghosts forward Mitch Garbutt during Sundays 34-0 win over the Ghosts at Frank McGuren Field on Sunday.
The Rebels will host Macksville at McKittrick Park on Saturday and will be looking to put some shaky home ground form behind them.
The Rebels win also gave them their first silverware of the season picking up the Viv Hodge Memorial Trophy, up for grabs every time the Ghosts and Rebels meet at Frank McGuren Field.
For more sports news, click here.
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