We reveal the biggest talking points from the round 2 TRL clash between Valleys and Gatton

In our TRL feature match of the round between Valleys and Gatton, we reveal the five biggest talking points from the blockbuster A-grade clash.

Shannon Hicks was a class above for Gatton on Sunday. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Gatton took home an impressive 24-8 win over Valleys in round 2 of the TRL on Sunday afternoon in a clash between two sides expected to be competing at the business end of the competition.

Check out our five biggest talking points from the game here.

Poor discipline from both sides

With both sides playing their first game of the season, a scrappy contest was not a massive surprise and from the outset it was clear the team which held its composure the longest would take home the two points,

It was penalties and sin bins galore between these two title chargers with several penalties and sin bins disrupting the flow of the game.

Throughout the clash, there were five players who were sent to the bin with countless more penalties conceded.

Valleys missing that clinical edge

After going behind early, the Roosters found some rhythm and created several exciting attacks from inside Gatton’s 20.

In fact they should have scored at least two tries, if not more during an action-packed period in the first half where the hosts had several opportunities to find an open player on the wing, but would make an error in the lead-up or try to force a pass which wasn’t there.

While they did manage to score a try before half time, they could have been in the lead if they iced their chances.

Gatton’s elite kicking game

Led by halves Shannon Hicks and Luke Self, Gatton’s kicking game was a class above as they created all sorts of pressure on the Valleys’ defence with their plethora of kicking plays.

From lethal bombs, to innovative kicks from scrum feeds and inch-perfect grubbers, the Roosters were constantly on their toes.

The perfect grubber kicks ultimately helped seal the win as they scored two tries in the final stages of the game through that weapon.

Intensity of finals

While it may have been the first game for both teams, the intensity was at the level you would expect to see in a do-or-die finals game.

Both sets of forwards made bruising tackles and pushed the pace with barnstorming runs for the entire 80 minutes.

Gatton storms home

Heading into the final stages of the clash, Valleys remained in with a shot and trailed by only four points.

However, in the last 15 minutes, Gatton took its game to another level, dominating possession and territory to keep the ascendancy.

Their dominance was eventually rewarded as Dominic Jones-Pincombe and Ben Haviland scored tries to seal the win for the visitors.

Originally published as We reveal the biggest talking points from the round 2 TRL clash between Valleys and Gatton