CDRL Rd9 WRAP: Andrew Garrett stars as Leps bounce back

A minor adjustment on the training paddock has helped Innisfail bounce back to form improve their chances of playing finals footy with a flogging of Mareeba. FULL ROUND 9 WRAP > >

A minor adjustment on the training paddock has helped Innisfail bounce back to form improve their chances of playing finals footy with a 66-6 flogging of Mareeba.

The Leprechauns dominated possession and field position to run in 12 tries against the Gladiators, allowing just one four-pointer in a solid 80 minutes at Davies Park.

FULL REPLAYS: EDMONTON v IVANHOES

Andrew Garrett showed why is one of the premier fullbacks in the Cairns District Rugby League A-grade competition by scoring a hat trick, while Robbie Garrett crossed for a double himself.

The Garretts are excitement machines who thrive in broken play and with the footy in their hands.

Innisfail Leprachaun's Andrew Garrett. Picture: Brian Cassey

Andrew started at fullback with Robbie off the bench, but Hallie said they delivered regardless of where they play.

“They’ve been great for us for the last couple of years,” Hallie said.

“Andrew is a payer who you can put anywhere on the field. He’s very dangerous.

“We had a lot of momentum and he’s at his best when he’s playing off the back of that.”

Leprechauns have jumped in and out of the winner’s circle for the past five weeks, trading wins and losses as they maintain fifth spot on the CDRL ladder.

A gap has started to open between the top six teams and the rest, making wins like this one crucial for Leprechauns.

Not only is it worth two points, but the boost to the points differential lifts them closer to the top four.

“It’s always good getting that points differential boost but we need just want to get a few things right,” Hallie said.

“It was a good win. We corrected a few things from the week before (32-12 loss to Atherton).

“It wasn’t the attitude, it was just sticking to the plan. We got a bit lost against Atherton, didn’t get ourselves into position to attack, and we got that right this week.”

The loss leaves Mareeba in second last and eight points behind the top five.

KANGAROOS CLAIM CRUCIAL WIN

Kangaroos Jack Thomas scores a try during the game against Tully at Vico Oval. Picture: brian Cassey

KANGAROOS have secured one of the most important wins of their Cairns District Rugby League campaign with a grinding 20-12 win against Tully.

It is only round nine of a 20-week season but Kangaroos’ eight-point win against the Tigers has opened a six-point gap on the ladder between the sixth and seventh placed sides.

The three-win difference is just the right amount of breathing room Kangaroos needed – it could have been reduced to two points had the Tigers managed a win on the road.

But Kangaroos triumphed in the four-tries-to-two affair, which heaps pressure on the Tigers and Yarrabah who are locked on six points.

The defending premier Seahawks slumped to their sixth loss of the season in a 38-18 loss to Brothers at Stan Williams Park, which keeps the Brethren in a share for the lead.

Mossman-Port Douglas beat Southern Suburbs 42-20 and Ivanhoe Knights thumped Edmonton 48-6 at Petersen Park to maintain pace in equal third.

RESULTS

MOSSMAN-PORT DOUGLAS 42 (Daniel 2, A Gibuma 2, B Gibuma 2, Crampton, Inguai tries; E Daniel 4, Ryan goals) def SOUTHERN SUBURBS 20 (Watson 2, Graham, Chinfat tries; Chinfat 2 goals) at Alley Park, Gordonvale.

INNISFAIL LEPRECHAUNS 66 (A Garrett 3, R Garrett 2, Murimurivalu, Mooka, Vota, Fakalelu, Taga, Valentine, not supplied tries; Jolley 8, Mooka goals) def MAREEBA GLADIATORS 6 (Banjo try; Banjo goal) at Davies Park, Mareeba.

BROTHERS 38 (Hindmarsh 2, Savage, Williams, Lewis, Heron, Suavai tries; Peni 5 goals) def YARRABAH SEAHAWKS 18 (Yeatman, Mundraby, Smith, not supplied tries; Harris goal) at Stan Williams Park, Manunda.

IVANHOE KNIGHTS 48 (Young 3, Thaiday 2, Knowles 2, Messa, Timu, Herd tries; Knowles 3, Wallace goals) def EDMONTON STORM 6 (Dau try; Salmond goal) at Petersen Park, Edmonton.

Watch the full replay here.

Kangaroos Jack Thomas during the game against Tully at Vico Oval. Picture: Brian Cassey

KANGAROOS 20 (Woodhouse, Thomas, Dau, Stephen tries; Stephen 3, goals) def TULLY TIGERS 12 (Uelese 2 tries; Nona 2 goals) at Vico Oval, Mooroobool.

ATHERTON had the bye.

Women

Yarrabah 30 def Tablelands 10.

Kangaroos 50 def Mossman-PD 4.

Edmonton 82 def Innisfail 10.

Reserves

Suburbs 24 def Mossman-PD 16.

Innisfail 30 def Mareeba 18.

Ivanhoe 44 def Edmonton 18.

Brothers 12 drew Yarrabah 12.

Kangaroos 24 def Tully Tigers 14.

Under-18s

Mareeba 50 def Innisfail 24.

Ivanhoe 34 def Edmonton 12.

Brothers 42 def Yarrabah 12.

Kangaroos 28 def Tully Tigers 20.

Atherton and Suburbs had the bye.

FIXTURES

Round 10

SATURDAY, JUNE 11

Mossman-Port Douglas v Ivanhoe Knights at Coronation Park, Mossman.

Brothers v Kangaroos at Stan Williams Park, Manunda.

SUNDAY, JUNE 12

Edmonton Storm v Mareeba Gladiators at Petersen Park, Edmonton.

Innisfail Leprechauns v Yarrabah Seahawks at Callendar Park, Innisfail.

Tully Tigers v Atherton Roosters at Tully Showgrounds.

Southern Suburbs have the bye.

Kick-off times not listed at time of print.

Follow @MMcInerney89

Originally published as CDRL Rd9 WRAP: Andrew Garrett stars as Leps bounce back