The Port Douglas Raiders have been crowned champions of the Cairns District Rugby Union competition after a thrilling 16-8 win over James Cook University. 

Excellent defence, co-ordination and the vocal support of about 100 Douglas supporters got helped the Raiders across the line during the game at Barlow Park in Cairns on Saturday. 

JCU took the lead early on, netting three points from a penalty kick, but the Raiders soon locked down their defence and scored a try 15 minutes later, keeping the lead for the rest of the game. 

Raiders captain Simon Chick and player Brett Letcher formed the frontline of defence in the centre, stopping ruck after ruck by JCU. 

Raiders coach Adam Calcraft lauded his team for their effort not just during Saturday’s game but in the sequence of matches against JCU in the month leading up to the final.

“We had a bad loss a few weeks back so we all sat down and talked it out - we knew we needed to beat JCU three times to win, and JCU hadn’t lost a game all season,” Calcraft said. 

“We got a much better attendance and effort put in at training after that.”

“As for the game - defence wins matches, and defence is an attitude - the boys got it together, they talked to each other on the field and they really put their heads down and got the job done.

“Simon Chick - talk about leading from the front! He and Brett Letcher spent all day in the middle snapping blokes twice their size in half. JCU tried to keep running over the top of them and Simon and Brett just kept sitting them on their arses.”

Calcraft also praised the Douglas supporters that came down to Barlow Park to watch the game, saying at about 15 minutes from full time the ‘wind was going out’ of the Raiders but the cheers from the fans kept them going. 

The Raiders will hold a presentation night on September 13.