Round 12 - 12.07.25
FOR CAMPO
The games on Saturday 12 July were about something much bigger than rugby. On Sunday 6 July, the Rebels lost a true legend of the Club, our Ground Manager and great supporter, Paul “Campo” Campton, killed on the road near his home in Bangalow by a hit and run motorist. A gentle man’s life taken in the most violent of ways.
The matches were moved to Bangalow to honour Campo and celebrate his life and contribution to the Rebels and the community. The weather was perfect, and Shultz Oval was looking at its very best with a special tribute to Campo marked up in blue and red on the field. The players lined up in the centre and the big crowd stood and clapped for a minute before each fixture.
All three games were against the Casuarina Baa Baas and we knew all three would be tough encounters, especially for the men’s teams with so many players away or out with injury. Casuarina came out of the blocks fast in the men’s second grade match, going on the attack early and putting the Rebels under pressure. That pressure was lifted up a notch when John Turagabeci was yellow-carded for a lifting tackle.
The Baa Baas took advantage of their one-man advantage and scored in the corner. But then the Rebels steadied and came back strongly, dominating the rest of the half with tries to Rhys Kearton, John Turagabeci (back on the paddock) and Charlie Clapp, who had a blinder. With a penalty goal and a conversion to Will Hawkins it was 20 – 7 to the Rebels at half-time.
It looked like we were on track for a comfortable victory, but things changed in the second half. Campbell Harvey, John and Rhys all had to leave the field with varying injuries and niggles. Concerned about players having to back up, the coaching team made a series of further changes with some old heroes coming on to relieve players who would be needed in the first grade game. Casuarina employed the opposite strategy, running on some of their best attacking first grade players to try to turn things back in their favour. That strategy worked, with the Rebels unable to score in the second half and the Baa Baas scoring a try on the stroke of full time to run out winners 24 – 20.
The disappointment of that loss was soon forgotten when the women’s game began. There were some emotional moments before the kick-off as the team got around Campo’s daughter and their much-loved teammate, Marlie. Then the whistle blew, and the Rebel women started to put on one of their best performances of the season.
Their passing was slick and their phase play was confident and assured. They just kept building pressure on the opposition. The Casuarina defence, while determined, couldn’t hold the Rebels out. Once again, captain Shyanne Appleby led from the front, doing the hard yards up the middle. Evie Eastwell seems to get better every game at half back, choosing cleverly when to pass and when to run, and pouncing on any opportunity. Faith Taylor put on the jet shoes whenever she had the ball and room to move. Indigo Simpson was a constant presence winning turnover ball and making tackles all across the park. In fact, every one of the Rebels contributed to a memorable win that thrilled the crowd. Tries to Shyanne (2), Faith, Evie, Indigo and Marsanne plus three conversions by Kari produced a convincing final scoreline of Rebels 36, Casuarina 10.
Our men’s first grade side was seriously short on players and had to make a number of last-minute changes to personnel and positions. That included starting Mr Versatile, James Ellis, in his first ever game in the second row, after playing a full game in second grade. The loss of Johnny T, Campbell and Rhys during the second grade game had left the bench looking even emptier. Then not long after play started, Declan Walker was sidelined with a leg injury and Coach Muir was starting to look around in the crowd for anyone capable of pulling on the boots.
Unfortunately, it only got worse. Fly-half and goal kicker, Jay Manson, had to be helped limping from the field after 25 minutes. Captain George Garnett was off before half-time after a heavy knock. Charlie Clapp took direct head contact in a tackle and was blue-carded for concussion.
With limited player numbers and all those changes, the Rebels never really found cohesion. In contrast, the Casuarina Baa Baas played the best game that we have seen from them and signalled that they are real premiership contenders. They dominated the play for much of the first half and most of the second, with a combination of physicality up the middle, speed out wide, and clever positional kicking. The Rebels never gave up but were unable to gain the ascendancy for more than brief periods. Against our weakened side, Casuarina ran out comfortable winners, 62 – 3.
So, it was a day of mixed fortunes and mixed and powerful emotions. In the history of the Club, the results from the games will only be a footnote to the record of the day that the Rebels did it all for Campo.
Written by David Phillips
