Tag Archives: rugby

A Good Day at the Park

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Story by Stewart Wilson

It was a very good day for our club on Saturday with the Mudchooks and
Mudchicks taking on ADFA teams and emerging victorious in both cases
at a wet and soggy Mick Sherd Oval.

The Chooks’ win turned out to be emphatic in the end, 29-7 and
scoring five tries to one courtesy five-pointers to Kalib Maksimovic,
Joe Nagauna, Jone Waqa, Uraia Rabici and Finlay Rowston.

The game started in what seems to be standard procedure for the
Mudchooks this year – the opposition dominating possession and
launching attack after attack from close range in the early stages and
the defence holding firm.

After surviving that initial onslaught the tide began to turn in
favour of the Mudchooks, helped considerably by the dominance of their
scrum which repeatedly and strongly pushed the ADFA pack into reverse.
A couple of scrums went against the ADFA feed as a result, something
that always makes the forwards (and coach) very happy indeed!

The backs also did their jobs when called upon and a couple of their
moves which resulted in tries were good to watch.

The team still has several key players out through injury with the
result that some experimentation with playing positions continues, but
these generally worked pretty well against ADFA. For example, Harry
Baker did a great job playing halfback for the first time, his efforts
reflected in the match awards noted below.

A good result for the Chooks!

The team’s next game is against the Hall Bushrangers at the Mick
Sherd Oval next Saturday but note the starting time is 3.30pm, an hour
later than usual due to sharing the day with the Tigers.

The player awards and their sponsors for the ADFA match were:
Best and Fairest: Royal Hotel – Harry Baker (3 points), Jye Russell
(2 points), Joe Nagauna (1 point).
Players’ Player: Mint Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – Harry
Baker.
Coach’s Player: Bungendore Community Bank – Harry Baker.
Chicks’ Pick: MV Panel and Paint – Maloni Tubekitu.

Mudchooks: Peaks and Valleys

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Story: Stewart Wilson

“Rugby can be a cruel game,” I remember my coach at school saying more than five decades ago. “One minute you’re at the top of the mountain, the next you’re in the valley.” A wise man, he added: “But don’t worry, this can apply to any sport, and the top of the mountain will come again.”

This pretty sums up the Bungendore Mudchooks’ 2024 season so far  – two wins in trial matches, a win in the first round of the regular competition and then two defeats. But the mountain beckons and the top remains well within sight.

The Taralga Tigers defeated the Chooks 12-8 at Taralga on 27 May in a brutal game which was called off ten minutes early due to a serious injury. The result was far from settled when time was called, the Chooks well and truly in it, but denied the chance to bridge the small gap.

Another away game a week later, this time against the Braidwood Redbacks. The Mudchooks had several key players out due to injury or unavailability on the day. As a result, some were forced to play out of their regular positions and the substitutes’ bench was only half full.

The Mudchooks pretty much held their own in the first half and scored first with a penalty goal by Maloni Tubekitu, followed by an almost length of field try by winger Connor Costello. Not far out from his own line, he spotted a gap and went for it. Eighty metres later he still had work to do, stepping around two defenders to score.

After that the Redbacks started to take control, scoring two tries and leading 12-8 at half time. Using their full substitutes bench regularly, they were able to add 21 points in the second half to win 33-15 at the final whistle.

The Mudchooks’ seven second half points came from a converted try by flanker Jye Russell. Plenty of work to do for the Mudchooks, but the team is a solid one. Their cause is not helped at the moment by the growing injury list.

The team’s next two games are at home against ADFA on 11 May and the Hall Bushrangers the following Saturday, starting at 2.30pm. So get yourself down to the Mick Sherd Oval and show your support!

The player awards and their sponsors for the Taralga match were:
Best and Fairest: Royal Hotel – Kyle Shand (3 points), Jacob Cullen (2 points), Jye Russell (1 point)
Players’ Player: Mint Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – Kalib Maksimovic and Kyle Shand.
Coach’s Player: Bungendore Community Bank – Maloni Tubekitu.
Chicks’ Pick: MV Panel and Paint – Kyle Shand.

And for Braidwood:
Best and Fairest: Royal Hotel – Connor Costello (3 points), Kalib Maksimovic (2 points), Kyle Shand (1 point).
Players’ Player: Mint Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – Will Smith.
Coach’s Player: Bungendore Community Bank – Connor Costello.
Chicks’ Pick: MV Panel and Paint – Connor Costello.

Bungendore Mudchicks Vs Uni-North Owls

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Story: Brooke Melavirta

The chicks played a very hard fought game this week, holding the owls out right down to the whistle. It all clicked for the chicks this week, working as a team and fighting right to the very end. 

Taryn Robson had a great game in 9, scoring two tries with one assist, kicking to the corner for Meredith Wells to chase down scoring a much needed try! Amylia Martin, her first year playing rugby put on some massive hits along with Dorothy Carroll, those two working together is something to watch! Gabrielle Klomp again having an absolute blinder, making some massive try saving tackles! Taylor Kay stepping up to vice captain this week proved that she is a senior leader in this team, didn’t stop talking all day! 

Coaches are incredibly proud of each and every one of the girls this week with Josh exclaiming, “this is what we’ve been working towards!” 

The final score was 28 – 32 with the Chicks just missing out right on the whistle. This week the chicks will be working more on set piece and keeping the mentality and team spirit at a high! 

The points for this round go to:
3 points sponsored by the Royal Hotel – Taryn Robson
2 points sponsored by Mint Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – Gabrielle Klomp
1 point sponsored by the Bungendore Community Bank – Amylia Martin
Coach’s Player – Taryn Robson

Bungendore Mudchicks Vs Goulburn Dirty Reds

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Story: Brooke Melavirta

The Bungendore Mudchicks played their first game of the season against the Goulburn Dirty Reds.

The Chicks worked very well individually, however are still learning how to work as a team. This game is a great starting point for the Chicks, now giving the coaches an idea of what to work on as they move through the season. The Mudchicks have many new players this year, as well as many players returning.

There were plenty of positives to take out of this game, Gabrielle Klomp proving to herself and everyone how well she can play in different positions! Dottie Carroll as always, making some huge runs and putting on some big hits! Amylia Martin in her first game putting on some massive hits! Jody-Lee Leibick playing in the backs but running like a forward and Kayla Smith making some good runs before unfortunately getting injured, cutting the game short.

Coaches are proud of how the girls went this weekend, and now know what needs to be worked on. The Chicks are looking forward to playing Uni North Owls next Saturday! 

The points for this round go to:
3 points – Gabrielle Klomp
2 points – Jody-Lee Leibick
1 point – Dorothy Carroll
Coach’s Player – Amylia Martin

Good Start For Mudchooks

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Story: Stewart Wilson

The Bungendore Mudchooks rugby team got its season off to a strong start at Mick Sherd Oval last Saturday with a 43-14 win over the Crookwell Dogs.

The team has welcomed new coach Ray Caranese and a number of new players to its ranks for the 2024 campaign which has started well, this first victory in the regular competition following wins against Cootamundra and Goulburn in pre-season trial games.

As expected, the game with Crookwell was a tough and very physical one, the final scoreline particularly impressive for the Mudchooks when the fact that the Dogs had most of the possession is taken into account.

There were many positives for the Mudchooks, especially the scrum which was dominant and also the largely new look backline which always threatened when the ball was spread wide to them.

The first half illustrated this well. Crookwell had the lion’s share of possession in the first 40 minutes but it seemed that on each of the few occasions the Chooks’ backs got a chance to stretch their legs they either scored from a slick move or launched a threatening attack. Some of the moves were a joy to watch.

Five of the Mudchooks’ seven tries were scored by the backs, centre Maloni Tubekitu picking up a hat trick. This is not to forget the enormous effort put in by the forwards to contain the Dogs in defence, this extremely important in the context of the opposition’s possession advantage. It was very hard work but paid off, the Dogs not able to take advantage.

In fact the Mudchooks’ overall defensive effort was excellent with both forwards and backs thwarting attack after attack. 

The Chooks went into the half time break leading 26-7 and in control, Crookwell’s only try in the first 40 coming from an intercept.

The Mudchooks kept control of the game in the second half and increased their lead to 43-14 at the final whistle. It was a promising season opener for them but as always, there is still plenty of work to do and plenty of areas which need sorting. But the potential for a successful season is certainly there and importantly, team spirit is sky high.

The Mudchooks have two away games coming up, against Taralga on 27 April and Braidwood on 4 May. Bring it on!

As the new season gets underway the Mudchooks want to thank the sponsors who continue to support the team, especially the team’s major sponsor, the Royal Hotel. Without our sponsors there would be no team.

The player awards and their sponsors for the Crookwell match are:
Best and Fairest: Royal Hotel – Jo Nagauna
Players’ Player: Mint Air Conditioning and Refrigeration – Viliame Taleca
Coach’s Player: Bungendore Community Bank – Maloni Tibekitu
Chicks’ Pick: MV Panel and Paint – Maloni Tibekitu