Sport
5 April, 2023
Oakey Bears season launched
The Oakey Bears launched their 2023 season with a passionate season launch.
An impassioned address from Oakey Bears President Brendan Dolan wasn’t enough to stop the Bears Men’s A Grade side from starting its 2023 campaign with a loss to Souths Tigers at Gold Park on Saturday.
The game was a tussle until Souths closed out the match late in the contest.
The Bears were not disgraced, but their lack of respect for the ball haunted them, along with some ill discipline around the ruck.
Coach Herman Ene-Purcell said it was “just one of those off-days”.
“We had the cattle, but we made a lot of mistakes and Souths capitalised off it,” he said.
Captain AJ and Aaron Cherry will be back next week.
Souths 38 (Howard 2, Santarossa, Pegler, Cook, Howlett, Wilson tries; Cook 5 goals) defeated Oakey 22 (Faletoese Faletoese, Kamuta Siaosi, Logona Vetemotu, Joseph Esing tries; Dylan Adamson 4 goals)
Webcke Price medal points: 3. C. Howlett (Souths)
2. Sione Lopamaua (Oakey)
1. A. Hearn (Souths)
Meanwhile, the Oakey Bears women got off to a great start with a thumping 42-4 win over Souths.
Coach Eddie Dean said it was a very good first hit-out for his side.
“It started off nice and tight,” Dean said.
“Then our captain Mireka, Erikana, and Clarissa slowly started taking control of the game,” he said.
In Reserve Grade game, Souths 42 defeated Oakey
28 and in the Under 19 match Souths 24 defeated Oakey 22
