The Bombala Blue Heelers Rugby League Football Club hosted a thrilling day of rugby league at the Bombala Exhibition Ground yesterday, facing off against the Eden Tigers across three grades of Group 16 action on a classic Sunday afternoon in the Snowy Mountains where you truly needed to love Rugby League to battle the frosty conditions.
The afternoon started well with the Bombala High Heelers League Tag side securing a decisive 10-0 victory over the Eden Tigerettes.
PHOTO: Travelling Tigers fans rugged up in the freezing conditions CREDITS: Razorback Sports Photography
The high-energy match saw Karter Hampshire making a significant impact, impressing with her standout performance on the day, but also consistently presenting as a danger to opposition sides in 2025.
PHOTO: The High Heelers continued on with their winning ways in round 4.
Next up, the Reserve grade team delivered a much-needed win against the Eden Tigers’ reserves, with a final score of 18-6. Bailey Jones, the starting Hooker for the Bombala Blue Heelers First Grade, highlighted the exceptional performances of Baidon Sten and Andrew Platts, who “really stuck it to the Eden forward pack.”
PHOTO: After a mixed start to the year the Blue Heelers Reserve grade side got a much needed home win over the Eden Tigers.
The First Grade team faced a tough contest, narrowly losing to the visiting Eden Tigers, 26-16. Reflecting on the match, Bailey Jones remarked, “Out there it felt like we had the upper especially in the second half and it was there for the taking but Eden had very solid goal line defence which showed in the final score.”
“Across all three grades the biggest takeaway which showed in our two wins for the day was keeping it simple. Holding the ball and completing our sets was what applied pressure to the Tigers, we just need to make those opportunities count when it’s presented to us.”
PHOTO: The Blue Heelers First Grade side are building into season 2025 with promising signs starting to show.
Jones emphasised the importance of improving their attack in the opposition’s half, stating, “We just need to be better in attack in the opposition’s half but that will just come with time.” He believes that with a few adjustments, those close games could soon sway in the Blue Heelers’ favour. Jones also praised Villy Tunidau’s remarkable comeback from injury, highlighting him a standout performer in the first grade match.
Looking ahead, the Bombala Blue Heelers will travel to Merimbula-Pambula next weekend to face off against the Bulldogs. The eagerly anticipated First Grade match kicks off at 2:30 pm at the Dog Pound on Saturday, May 24, where the Blue Heelers first graders will look to build on promising signs in season 2025 and cause a upset on the road.