Winning Raiders face injury hurdles

In a rewarding turnaround to the season, the Port Douglas Reef Raiders are now second on the log table, have won three successive matches and look set to make the playoffs and defend the Rainforestation Cup.

At the weekend, they ran in six tries to defeat Southside 39-34, but now face a major hurdle dealing with a number of injuries.

The injury toll stands at six and the following are hoping to be fit in time for the play-offs: wing Cole Watson (out for 1-2 weeks), prop Clint Kachel (1-2 weeks), flank Sebastian Skey (2 weeks), half Wayne Oui (uncertain), flank Robert Scomazzon (out for the season) and Rodrigo Goyret (1-2 weeks).

Coach Travis Gooch said the increasing number of injuries after successive wins is now an area of focus for the team.

“With a squad of 30, we are now testing out the depth of the squad. We hope to have a few of these guys return over the next few weeks leading into the finals,” said Gooch.

But the injuries have not overly impacted the team’s successive victories and there is an air of confidence at the club, after an ordinary start to the season.

“The win now puts us second overall on the table with three rounds to go before the finals. In the first week of finals, one plays two with the winner going straight through to the final; and three takes on four in the knockout stage. A top spot is a big advantage,” said Gooch.

It was a balanced performance against Southside with the forwards providing the necessary momentum and the backs putting their possession to good use.

Eighthman and captain Jack Murday produced another dominant display and was well supported by props James Inglis and Thaddius Minniecon with their dynamic-physical presence.

Fullback, Trazane Cobb and wing Dereck Letcher gave the visitors a busy night, while flyhalf Luke Edwards found space behind the Southside backline on a number of occasions. The flying Scotsman, wing Jamie Quinn continues to find the try line when given space.

Impact players off the bench, Adrian Bannerman and Jackson Bray, helped seal the win.

Fullback Trazane Cobb (2), wing Dereck Letcher, wing Jamie Quinn, prop Thaddius Minniecon and lock Adrian Bannerman scored the Raiders’ tries. Flyhalf Luke Edwards converted three tries and added a penalty.

Edwards is the third on the FNQ’s leading point scorers’ table with 68 points.

This weekend Raiders play Barron at The Paddock, Machans Beach at 4:00pm.

Other scores:

JCU 19 Wanderers 7
Barron 46 Brothers 0