The scoreboard made for unpleasant reading at the Sports Complex last Saturday but it wasn’t enough to crush the enthusiasm of the Super Spuds and Spudettes as they made their official return to Group 19 rugby league.
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Ashford crashed the party on the field with two big wins, starting with a 42-8 victory over the Spudettes.
The visitors hit Guyra early with a couple of tries before the Spudettes had a chance to settle.
It was 16-nil before a remarkable length of the field try by Kia Blair got Guyra on the board.
She beat several defenders on a 100m run after taking a cross-field kick near her own goal line.
It was 20-4 at the break.
The Roosters ran some great lines and this provided no end of trouble for the Guyra defence.
Sophie Gaukroger and Alli Burey made some important, last-ditch tags to save a few tries but the visitors still found the line four more times in the second half.
Blair snagged her double and Guyra’s other try when she picked up a loose ball and ran 40m to score.
There were a number of impressive performances from a Spudettes side missing some key players and they will only get better with a game under their belt.
In the first grade clash the Roosters also caught Guyra on the hop early in the game and the points followed.
The score was already 60-nil by halftime as the visitors used a massive possession advantage, their much bigger pack and slippery backs to split the rusty Spuds almost at will.
It took a stern halftime talk from coach, Stephen Kliendienst and some self-reflection to spark a much better second half performance.
There was more intensity and more control from the Spuds after the break and eventually led to a try to young half, Kyle Mongta.
The teenager was a standout for Guyra and it was a much-deserved four-pointer, which he converted.
Les Perrett was players’ player for his whole-hearted effort in the forwards, up against a much bigger Ashford pack.
The final score was 94-6 and not what the Spuds had hoped for, but the coach was pleased to report a good response from his men after the game.
“They were all pretty positive,” Stephen Kliendienst said.
“These kids just want to play footy for Guyra and they’re doing that.”
He said a lack of size, injuries during the game and the absence of four key players made the job harder for Guyra, but is confident his young side will only improve, not only this year but into the future.
In addition to Mongta and Perrett, the coach said Ricky Ellis, Brenton Jackson and Erick Klabe also performed well.
Guyra is at home again this Saturday when the Moree Boars come to town.
League Tag kicks off at 1pm with first grade to follow at 2.15pm.
Training continues for the men tonight from 6pm.
Grant Robertson
