by Darryl Kirk

The Port Douglas Under 12s Rugby Union Reef Raiders team travelled to Cairns Friday night to take on TAS K in what turned out to be an epic match.

With no reserves to call on the young Raiders knew they were in for a tough night. With Scott Bowen moving into the hooker position he relished the confrontations up front with solid defence and taking on the opposition with ball in hand.

TAS scored the first try of the evening, but the Raiders were having none of that and applied the pressure from the restart, picking and driving up the middle of the paddock only to have a try held up,  

with quick play from the scrum the Raiders spun the ball out wide to the speedsters and with some slick passing Xavian Pitt went over for the first five pointer, Zac Osborne converted to even up the score at 7 all.

For the last ten minutes of the first half TAS were camped in the Raiders' 22 and were applying enormous pressure, but with a week’s hard training on defensive skills the Raiders denied TAS any points.

The second stanza started with the same vigour with neither side given an inch. TAS were the first to score from a kick and chase to lead 14 -7.

That fired the young Raiders up and they launched their own style of attack. Tom Walker was playing in the  # 7 jumper and played the role of an open side flanker to a tee and was rewarded with a barnstorming try up the middle, with Osborne converting the scores were level again at 14 each.

The Ref called time five minutes early which was a pity because TAS were spent and the Raiders were tasting victory.

Coaches Todd Malone and Darryl Kirk only had praise for their chargers and were proud of the way they defended their line, they could not have asked for more.

Asked who was the Port Putt Putt Man of the Match they said the whole team, because that night there was just one team, not 15 individuals.