WHEN last year’s premiers the Nambucca Roosters met the Grafton Ghosts on Sunday, they had not played to a home crowd since Round 3.
The Roosters gave their legion of fans something to crow about, giving the Ghosts a 52-10 thumping in their First Grade Round 9 clash at Coronation Park.
The match started with the expected intensity and the visitors were able to keep the Roosters against their line for the majority of the first seven minutes.
In the eighth minute, a penalty going their way got the home side in perfect field position for the unstoppable Tyronne Roberts-Davis to put one under the post and convert his own try.
Logan Jones crossed again for the home side eight minutes later.
Soon after, in an inspired piece of attacking play, Dane Saunders was able to outstep the Grafton defenders in the centre, resulting in a try under the posts for his brother Jake.
The Roosters scored again, this time off the back of a Roberts-Davis 30 metre line break, putting Dan Saunders under the posts.
The try was converted by Tyrecce Sines to give the Roosters a 22-0 lead.
Grafton then responded with some solid attacking play that took some of the momentum out of the Roosters’ onslaught.
It appeared that the first half would play out without more points until the Ghosts fullback, Tom Vickery, dropped a high ball only metres from the Roosters try line.
Logan Jones scored the resulting try, with the Roosters heading to the break 28-0 up.
The first half was not without casualties and both teams had two players leave the field injured – Roberts-Davis and Sines for Nambucca and Slater and Woods for Grafton.
The loss of Woods, the Ghosts halfback, seemed to magnify their woes and their defensive play appeared disorganised from that point.
Within two minutes of kick-off in the second half Beau Langford scored in style for the Roosters, converted by Issac Jones. Four minutes into the half Dane Saunders scored again, the most spectacular try of the game, putting the ball over in the corner while his airborne body was over the side line.
The rampage continued when Jake Saunders got away on a 45 metre run.
While Saunders was pulled down with five metres to go, Robbie Inglis burst across the line to score.
Logan Jones completed his hattrick inside the last 10 minutes, converting his try to take the score to 52-0.
With only three minutes remaining in the game Grafton’s Zane Farrell found a hole in the Roosters defence and scored a face saving try.
A controversial penalty try to Grafton closed out the game in the final minute, the score ending 52-10.
Nambucca’s epic points tally was aided by Tyreece Sines and Elijah Woods nailing some difficult conversions.
In the minor grades, the U/18s put on a great display in a close game, with the visitors taking out a 22-20 win.
The Women’s Tackle was another great game and could have gone either way in the early stages, however the Ghosts dominated in the second half, taking the game out 28-10.
The Reserve Grade clash was a great game of football, an absolute crowd-pleaser with the Nambucca Roosters finally picking up a win 24-12.
Next Sunday the Roosters are away to Sawtell at Rex Hardaker Oval, beginning with the U/18s at 11:00.
By Mick BIRTLES
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