Sport
17 March, 2022
Wolves demolish Rangers in league trial
THE Stanley River Wolves Division 2 rugby league team made light work of a Narangba Rangers outfit in a trial match last Saturday afternoon, with the Wolves winning 66-6.
A squad of 24 players headed to Narangba for the hit-out, with 23 of them having some game time while one player withdrew after sustaining an injury in the warm-up.
Wolves coach Gary Atkinson-Maul said he “couldn’t have been happier” with the way things unfolded, and that the team’s defensive structure was very good against a physically bigger team.
Regardless of the scoreline, Atkinson-Maul said the Wolves gained match fitness, dusted off the cobwebs, and worked on combinations.
Atkinson-Maul said the Wolves could do little training beforehand due to damage to the lights at the training grounds.
The squad contained seasoned campaigners and youngsters, and at least one player who hadn’t played for a number of years.
Second-rower Daniel Brooks put in a player-of-the-match display while the halves combination of Josh Woodham and Callum Klein directed the team well.
Nathan Saliamungo scored three tries on the wing, while teenager Ty Redmond made an impression at fullback.
There was a mix of well-worked team tries, and individual efforts that resulted in tries.
The visiting team dominated from the outset, leading 36-0 at half-time in the 70-minute game and maintaining the upper hand despite changing the approach in the second half.
Atkinson-Maul said the Wolves stuck to the plan in the first half before trying different combinations and practicing different things in the second half.
“They were very strong in the first 10 to 15 minutes, and our fitness was the thing that got us through,” he said.
“Fitness and defence. Our defence was great, against a bigger side.”
