Edmonton Storm notched their second straight win of the Bendigo Bank CDRL A Grade season with an impressive 32-10 Round 5 victory over bottom-of-the-table Atherton at Roosters Stadium on Saturday night.

The Storm, who started their 2013 campaign with three straight defeats, ran in six tries against their winless hosts.

Storm coach Brian Paul said his side were now starting to gain the confidence they had in pre-season when they targeted a grand final appearance as their main aim for the season.

“The boys played really well on Saturday,” he said. “It was windy, wet and cold but we dealt well with the conditions.

“A few of the boys are definitely starting to gel and we’re especially beginning to click in attack, which means we’re not having to defend as much.

“The last couple of years we’ve had great starts to the season, but this year we’ve been doing it differently.

“As long as we’re in the grand final at the end of the year, I don’t care how we do it.

“The team is definitely showing more confidence, and as long as we have a better run with injuries than we have to date, I think we’ll be okay.”

Centre Landon Kynuna grabbed a brace for the visitors, with Eddie Daniels, George Toby, Liam Dodd and Jarred Tatipata also crossing for the Storm. Adam Walker and Pat Whap grabbed consolation tries for the Roosters.

Paul confirmed Northern Pride-contracted star Brian Murgha will miss the next several weeks with a hamstring injury, but he expects a few key players to shake off minor niggles ahead of their blockbuster against leaders Tully this weekend.

Yarrabah Seahawks finally got their 2013 campaign up and running with a thrilling first win of the season against the Innisfail Leprechauns at Jilara Oval.

The hosts celebrated last week’s announcement of Bryant Constructions as their new major sponsor with a last-gasp 32-30 victory.

Fenton Murgha and Wade Smith both scored two tries, while Oswald Fourmile, Merton Richards and Charles Murgha also crossed the line for the Seahawks.

Northern Pride hooker Jason Roos made a successful return from a knee reconstruction by playing 60 minutes and scoring two tries for the Mareeba Gladiators in their dramatic 20-20 draw with Southern Suburbs at Davies Park on Saturday night.

Suburbs five-eighth Rhys Hanlon kicked a 78th-minute penalty goal to level proceedings, after Jordan Tighe’s conversion of Roos’ second try had edged the Gladiators in front.

The Gladiators put out a strong team, with Pride players Roos, Tighe and Alex Starmer all in action, along with former NRL star and current Mareeba head coach Rod Jensen.

Brothers celebrated the 30th anniversary of Stan Williams Park in style with a 38-22 win over in-form Ivanhoes.

Centre James Doolah crossed for two tries, while Peter Falefitu, Boche Satrick, Clifford Beetham, Kris O’Farrell and Nathan Kepa also notched four-pointers for the hosts.

Meanwhile, Tully returned to the top of the ladder with a thumping 40-2 win over previously unbeaten Kangaroos in a top-of-the-table clash at Tully Showground.

The Tigers roared back from defeat in the previous round to Mossman thanks to a seven-try display against the Roos. Winger Greg Miglio starred with two tries, as did Pride five-eighth Shaun Nona, who slotted six goals.

Mossman-Port Douglas had a bye.

2013 CDRL Bendigo Bank A Grade
ROUND 5 RESULTS
Mareeba 20 (Roos 2, Hogan, Jensen tries; Tighe 2 goals) drew with Southern Suburbs 20 (Ketchell 2, Singleton tries; Hanlon 2, Chinfat, Whittle goals) at Davies Park.

Edmonton Storm 32 (Kynuna 2, Daniels, Toby, Dodd, Tatipata tries; Riesen 4 goals) def Atherton 10 (Walker, P. Whap tries; Davies goal) at Roosters Stadium.

Tully 40 (Miglio 2, Tauli, Lavell, Dore, Kapea, Barra tries; Nona 6 goals) def Kangaroos 2 (Amber goal) at Tully Showground.

Brothers 38 (J. Doolah 2, Faletifu, Satrick, Beetham, O’Farrell, Kepa tries; Beetham 3 goals, Satrick 2 goals) def Ivanhoes 22 (Baragud 2, Barnard, Burns tries; Baragud 2 goals, T. Doolah goal) at Stan Williams Park.

Yarrabah 32 (F. Murgha 2, W. Smith 2, O. Fourmile, Richards, C. Murgha tries; F. Murgha 2 goals)  def Innisfail 30 (Laza, Savage, Koroba, Sofa tries; Koroba 3 goals) at Jilara Oval.

BYE – Mossman-Port Douglas