They won the premiership in 2017 and 2018 and even after just one game of the 2019 Mount Isa Rugby League season, Townies appear to be the team to beat again this season.
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At Alec Inch Oval on Saturday they took on Wanderers in the second game of the all-Mount Isa double header after Brothers beat Black Stars 42-24 in the first game.
After some even early exchanges the premiers flexed their muscles on seven minutes to open the scoring and doubled their advantage on 13 minutes after a Wanderers penalty failed to make touch and Town got over on the sixth tackle.
Town thought they grabbed a third try on 20 minutes but was ruled out due to an offside player but on their next set of six, they did grab a third try to lead 12-0 with only poor kicking for conversion keeping the Wanderers in the game.
Wanderers did apply some pressure as the half progressed but were undone by a stolen ball and a length-of-the-field run for another try and an 18-0 scoreline.
If anyone though Wanderers were dead and buried at this point, someone forgot to tell their players as they finally got their game face on as a Town player was sinbinned for unnecessary backchat.
Wanderers took advantage of the extra man and ended the half with two late tries, though crucially neither was converted. But at 18-8 at the break, there was a half decent chance if they could keep momentum up in the second half.
The second half was a slogfest with no points scored for almost a half hour and an all-in brawl added to the unseemliness.
Both sides fumbled chances when they approached the try line but it was Wanderers who finally breached the try line on 68 minutes putting them within reach at 18-12.
They couldn't kick the conversion and Townies made they pay, slotting home a penalty directly in front with eight minutes to go to extend the margin to eight points.
Townies put the icing on the cake with one final try in the last minute. Final score: Town 24, Wanderers 12.
There are no games this weekend because of the Labour Day long weekend.
Round 2 takes place on May 11 with Town taking on Black Stars at Alec Inch Oval and Cloncurry play their first game at home to Wanderers.
READ ALSO: Treble for Tamara Morris at Mount Isa Races
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
