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Thunder rumbles as team beat Bulls

Thunder player Arjun Kumaracheliyan ran the length of the ground to score a try just before half time.

Kimberley Rugby League celebrated its 50th game at the weekend with Kununurra Thunder demolishing an undermanned Ord River Bulls 68-12.

The match, played as a double header with the East Kimberley Football League finals at the Ag Oval, was a tight contest early, with both teams adding points in the opening 40 minutes.

Just before half-time, Thunder were ahead 12-8 when Arjun Kumaracheliyan broke the Bulls line and ran the length of the field to score a spectacular try.

When play resumed in the second half, it was one-way traffic as the Thunder piled on the points to smash their opponents ahead of this weekend's grand final.

KRL president Matt Young said the milestone match was a great achievement for the sport, which was officially launched in town in 2012.

"We're playing more games and we're playing different games now, so it's really exciting," he said.

"In 2011 we first started playing, but we were all playing in the same jerseys, so it was just a bit of a scratch match. 2012 was our first proper season."

"We've been to Broome once already this season for a match against them and 10 of us will be going down again to combine with the Broome guys for an exhibition match against the Pilbara at the Shinju Matsuri Festival."

Young said other initiatives such as last year's Pull Up Your Socks exhibition match, which raised more than $16,000 for the McGrath Foundation, and more recently the Town v Country spectacular as part of the Ord Valley Muster, proved the sport was going from strength to strength.

"The best thing is seeing a few of the young fellas come in and they have all played 10 or 12 games each now," he said.

"Hopefully, over the next few seasons we can build on what we have done and keep these regular 15 or 16 games a season going and get the juniors involved."

"Once we get the season out of the way and the other sports die down a bit, we might try to get some juniors going just to build that base for the future."

Young said securing interest among youngsters was the key to growing the game in the town.

This Sunday, KRL will hold its grand final, with the Thunder and Bulls facing off again for the title.

The teams have one premiership each from the first two official seasons after the Bulls upset the Thunder in last year's decided.

The match, to be played at the Ag Oval from 4pm, will have the usual food and drink facilities.