The Snowy River Bears returned to the field for round 5 of the Canberra Region Rugby League’s George Tooke Shield, after an unexpected three-week hiatus, to face the formidable Boorowa Rovers on Saturday, May 31. The Bears initially made a strong impression, opening the scoring with a try from hooker Tui Samoa. However, the match gradually swung in favour of the home side, with a final score of 60-16 reflecting a strong Rovers side but also a mounting injury toll.
PHOTO: Players player against the Rovers Tas Engel takes a menacing hit-up CREDITS: Alyssa Zusak
Boorowa continued their run of impressive form, now scoring 60+ points in each of their three outings this season. Bears’ President, Jason Dyball, praised the Rovers for their textbook execution. “They worked up the middle and then played out the back, catching us out for numbers.”
“Having a bye for the representative round and then a washout meant that we hadn’t played footy for three weeks leading into this weeks game. We suffered several injuries during the game, and eventually, Boorowa just ran away with it,” Dyball explained.
PHOTO: Max Naisby was solid in defence but also found himself in space.
Despite the defeat, several Bears players showcased resilience and skill. Tui Samoa, scoring two of the Bears’ three tries, stood out along with Tas Engel, whose commendable defence and strong performance earned him the three points and the players’ player award. Max Naisby’s solid defensive work earned him two points and Kohen Pearce’s contributions saw him receive recognition with one point.
Looking ahead, the Bears are preparing for an important clash against the Binalong Brahmans at home in round 6 following another week off due to the June long weekend. Dyball emphasised the importance of this fixture, stating, “We need to train hard as a group and work on our edge defence.” This upcoming home fixture will be significant, not just for the season’s standings but also as a memorial round to honour Andy Wallace, a Bears player tragically lost 25 years ago in a match against the Brahmans.
PHOTO: Nic Colman was accurate with the boot converting two from three.
The Bears men will look to use the Jindabyne faithful at home to drive their performance and bounce back in round 6, aiming to reconnect with form and the top of the ladder. The George Tooke Shield Women’s League Tag side take to JJ Connors Oval Jindabyne at 1:15pm against the Brahmans women on Saturday June 14 ahead of the men at 2:30pm.