Sport
19 April, 2023
Rattlers start with a victory
The Brisbane Valley Rattlers had a dream start to their second season of senior AFL, as they won their round one match by seven goals against the Beenleigh Buffaloes at Guardian Gantry Hire Oval last Friday night.
The visitors led 6.3.39 to 2.1.13 at the first change and then 10.6.66 to 3.2.20 at half-time, before taking a 13.6.84 to 7.2.44 lead into the final term.
When full-time sounded, the Rattlers prevailed 15.9.99 to 9.3.57.
With Beenleigh having kicked the opening goal, Rattlers coach Billy North (pictured) said his team began a little slowly but that Brisbane Valley’s leaders in the midfield started to turn things around soon after the first goal.
“The way we played the first half was how we would like to play all games,” he said.
“The second half we had two hamstring injuries and a couple of other guys sore.
“(It) was good to see us match them in the second half even with a few injuries.
“We held momentum for most of the game.
“There was a period just after half-time where Beenleigh really challenged us and kicked a few goals, before the Rattlers dug deep and quickly broke even by the final break.”
North said everyone in the Brisbane Valley team did their job and that the contest was physical and played in good spirits.
After the Rattlers placed second-last on the points table last year while the Buffaloes were at the bottom, North said Beenleigh had “come a long way like us since last year”.
The Rattlers included recruits Corey Roulent, Rob Elstub, Rory Bell, Jordan Lynn and Jimmy Scarce, with Scarce having won an U18 premiership with the Western Magpies before winning a premiership with the Kenmore Bears.
The Rattlers also fielded a few players either brand new or relatively new to AFL, including Jack Treschman and Flynn Menner.
