Isis Devils making mark with four wins after returning to competition

After four years on the sidelines the Isis Devils have made a stunning return to the league competition with a four-win streak.

Co-captain Royce Blair has been a standout for the Isis Devils this season so far.

Isis Devils coach Ian Kearton will be taking nothing for granted when his side takes on the winless Miriam Vale Magpies in South Kolan on Sunday, May 14.

The Devils, which won its first four games of the Northern Districts Rugby League season, had a much-needed bye in round five and Kearton was able to take a good look at all the opposition at Gary Larson Oval, in Miriam Vale last weekend.

The Childers-based side missed the past four years after having to pull out of the Bundaberg Rugby League competition in 2019 as they were unable to field an A-grade team.

Kearton said he was happy with how the season had started but there were still some things that could be improved.

“It’s been a tough season, obviously with us coming in with a new team and having to find combinations,” he said.

“From a coaching point of view, I think the boys are coming along well, we’ve learned a lot about ourselves and the opposition, obviously.

Player/coach Andrew Mason in action for the South Kolan Sharks against the Miriam Vale Magpies.

“But yeah, it’s definitely a very competitive league.

“Four wins from four is obviously a great start.

“The boys know that we‘ve got a lot of improvement in us as well. So we won’t be resting on our laurels.

“We’ll be working hard and trying to improve.”

The Devils will take on the Magpies this Sunday, May 14, as the season moves into the second round of games.

The Miriam Vale outfit has had four defeats so far this season, but Kearton said previous results meant nothing as the campaign progresses.

“I’m sure they will be ready to put on a better performance,” he said.

“I believe that a lot of their players work out of town as well, so that makes it tough for them to have the same squad together every week to build on combinations.

“But when they are at their strongest, they are a formidable side.”

South Kolan Sharks are sitting in second on the ladder, with two wins, a draw and a defeat.

Kearton said Sharks player/coach Andrew Mason, who scored a try in his side’s 28-8 victory over the Magpies last weekend, had got his team playing well and they would be a threat as the season moved on.

“They’re a very exciting team and I definitely think there’ll be a force to be reckoned with next time we play them, that’s for sure,” he said.

Marlins player/coach Kym McIntosh in action against the Isis Devils in the NDRL Women's Touch League.

Kearton said he and his players were now coming to grips with the competition, but with the other teams constantly changing line-ups it was hard to work out tactics.

“We didn’t have any sort of idea of what we were going to come up against,” he said.

“All we have to do is make sure that we prepare well ourselves.”

Kearton said it was hard to pinpoint players who had stood out in the opening rounds but did have special praise for a handful of his squad.

“My two captains, Royce Blair and Zac Dann, have been outstanding,” he said.

“Bailey Kimber has also been good in the forwards, while our hooker Brent Haas has been excellent.

“Coming off the bench, Jimmy Bryant has added a lot of enthusiasm to our team.”

In last weekend’s other game in round five, the Avondale Tigers came back to defeat the Gin Gin Hawks 30-24 with tries coming from Jackson Brown, Dylan Wagner, Monty Chapman-Dynevor, Samson Dau and Nathan Leather.

In the NDRL women’s touch league, the Gin Gin Hawkettes defeated the Avondale Tigeress, 56-0 and the Marlins beat the Isis Devils Ladies 8-4.