Still no victory for Bundy

WITH Wallabies coach Robbie Deans watching on, Bundaberg matched Gladstone in all departments for the second week in a row in the Harbour City on Saturday.

After conceding a late converted try to go down 26-24 at home a week earlier, the Rum City side trailed just 17-15 before the hosts grabbed a last-minute five-pointer to seal a 22-15 victory.

Co-coach Matt Leighton played at hooker to help out in the absence of several players who were missing, including two of their Wide Bay open representatives, Jesse McMillan and Elisha Kiddie.

But he said that while it was disappointing to again lose narrowly, he was extremely proud of another very committed effort.

“It was always really close on the scoreboard. It was nil-all after the first quarter, then it went tit for tat, and I was very happy with the performance in hot conditions despite in the end going down four tries to three,” Leighton said.

He sung the praises of captain James Courtice, whom he said again led from the front.

“James was good in the line-outs, as he always is, while Tom Marland was also really good at No. 8 and second row, and halfback Kyle Galloway had a good game until he unfortunately injured his shoulder late in the game,” he said.

“Flyhalf Andrew Filo and inside centre Glen Sherbourne also had pretty good games.”

He also said rookies Kurt Dempsey and Jonathan Dimes did well again.

Leighton said Deans and former Wallaby Glen Panoho were in town as guests for a sportsmen’s dinner and it was a buzz for the players to perform in front of them.

The Bundaberg Rugby stalwart also said despite Bundaberg being out of season, the two highly spirited performances against Gladstone proved senior rugby was alive and well in the district.

He cited one of the biggest positives to come out of the annual exchange as the coming of age of another of their Wide Bay open representatives, and another big man Anthony “Avatar” Matthews, whom he said played his first season of rugby in the Spring Cup late last year.