Sport
17 April, 2024
Bears men on the board after Lions wins
After suffering an horrendous start to the season last year, both of Oakey men’s sides recorded their first wins of the season against Newtown at Trevor Mickelborough Oval.
A Grade
Oakey Bears scored their first win of the season by defeating Newtown 32-24 at Trevor Mickleborough Oval on Sunday.
In front of a large home crowd, Oakey scored seven tries to four in a good display.
The lead changed a couple of times in the first half with the Bears leading 18-12 at half time.
Newtown came out of the sheds the better to tie the game up 18-all thanks to a Mark James try.
Oakey knuckled down and surged to a 32-18 lead to get ahead of the Bluebags.
The Lions got to 32-24 before Oakey took out the match.
The game was played in good spirit with both sides coming to play.
Jacob Edwards scored a double for the home side as did Salafuauli Falelua-Malio.
Player of the match was Oakey’s Kaleb Stanton with his defence a highlight.
He turned the opposition around when needed.
For Newtown, Lachlan Watt and Sailas Cakau continued their early season form.
Clydesdales aligned player Tareq Parter also played well for the Lions.
In the end it was Oakey’s and they deserved the win.
Oakey now travel to Dalby next weekend to take on the premiers. Newtown host Goondiwindi with both sides still to register a win.
- Andrew O’Brien
Oakey: 32 (Jacob Edwards 2, Salafuauli Falelua-Malio 2, Kamu Siaosi, Allister Cameron, Kaleb Stanton tries Maluafiti Vaovasa Taiama 2 goals)
Newtown: 24 (Richard Murray, Riley Halpin, Mark James, Cooper Thompson tries Lachlan Watt 4 goals)
Reserve Grade
Oakey: 34 (Trey Fernando 2, Dylan Crump 2, Alexander Ferguson, unnamed winger tries Jakeb Mead 3, Dylan Crump, Joseph Eising goals)
Newtown: 12 (Jordan Lawson, Cameron Moodie tries Cameron Moodie 2 goals)
Coach Laurie Stewart awarded Man-Of-The-Match to co-captain Dylan Crump, with Joey Eising second and rookie Sam Jackson third.
Stewart said he was broadly content with his side’s performance.
“We had a 20 minute lapse where our defence was pretty ordinary,” he said.
“We had no injuries this week, so I was able to just rotate the forwards.”
He said having Joseph Eising as the main organiser had freed up Crump to play his natural game.
Coach Stewart also praised the commitment of team manager Brad Gosden, who put up his hand to play after the team’s 42 point loss to Wattles.
Gosden was a fan favourite, receiving a large cheer from the hundreds-strong crowd each time he took a hit-up.
“He said to me ‘Laurie, I need to get out there and show them how it’s done’,” Stewart said.
“Brad’s an Old Boy, a Life Member and he’s a bit of a cult figure around the club.”
Women
Newtown: 30 (Kiara Taylor 2, Kylie Janes 2, Ashlee French, Montana Mook, Lani Washington tries goal)
Oakey 16 (Bianca-Maree Johnson, Chloe Miller, Sabina McLoughlin tries Sabina McLoughlin 2 goals)
Next Round: Oakey travels to Dalby on Sunday.
