It was a great day for the Greta Branxton Colts reserve grade outfit in the Bengalla Hunter Valley Group 21 competition at the weekend, returning home from Denman with a 26-12 victory under its belt.
After a bruising opening 10 or so minutes, it was the Huntlee Tavern-sponsored visitors to strike first after five-eighth Jacob Barnes turned back-rower Travis Sams underneath.
And, with a big right-foot step, he surged through a gap and, despite the attention of multiple defenders, he threw a neat pass inside to fullback Cain Bonham who streaked away and scored under the black dot. Hooker Haiden Kowalski added the extras and the Colts led 6-0.
Another arm-wrestle ensued and it was the Devils next to score, in spite of the protests of several Greta Branxton players who were adamant that they had held the ball up. The try was duly converted, levelling things up at 6-all.
With blood flowing from a head wound, coach John Hamson pleaded with his troops in the in-goal to lift another gear and this, combined with the injection off the bench of the blockbusting Hayden Slade who returned from injury, seemed to do the trick.
From deep inside Colts territory, Slade ran the ball down the right edge before completely steam-rolling his opposite number.
He ultimately turned the ball inside for debutant Harley Oliver to streak away and score. Kowalski again added the extras to increase the margin to 12-6.
In the shadows of half-time, it was that man again Slade who called the ball down the short side before taking on the line and holding it up beautifully to put his halfback Ethan Sams through a hole. Kowalski’s attempted conversion from the sideline struck the upright and the score remained 16-6 at oranges.
The Colts shot out of the blocks in the second period.
An unforced error by the Devils saw lock Jimoin Norman scoop up the loose ball before turning inside to Sams to dive over for his double of the afternoon. Kowalski made no mistake with the goal to extend the advantage to 22-6.
Just as it looked as though the floodgates might open, buoyed by a vocal home crowd, the Devils lifted a gear and were the next to score a rather soft try through the ruck for a 22-12 scoreline.
Hooker Kowalski was next to get in on the action after the ball went through multiple sets of hands.
He pinned his ears for the corner post and crossed the stripe for the final score of the game.
Best for Greta Branxton were the young brigade of Sams, Bonham and Kowalski with Slade and Travis Sams also having big games.
In first grade fixtures, the Scone Thoroughbreds hammered the Muswellbrook Rams 48-6 and the Aberdeen Tigers ended the Singleton Greyhounds’ unbeaten streak 20-16, while the Devils had the bye.
Bengalla Hunter Valley Group 21 Rugby League
Round four results:
First grade: Scone Thoroughbreds d Muswellbrook Rams 48-6, Aberdeen Tigers d Singleton Greyhounds 20-16, Denman Devils bye
Reserve grade: Greta Branxton Colts d Denman Devils 26-12, Murrurundi Mavericks d Muswellbrook Rams 52-0, Scone Thoroughbreds d Merriwa Magpies 28-18, Singleton Greyhounds drew with Aberdeen Tigers 22-all
Under-18s: Aberdeen Tigers d Singleton Greyhounds 26-14
Monarch blues tag: Murrurundi Mavettes d Denman Devils 70-0, Scone Thoroughbreds d Merriwa Magpies 24-0, Aberdeen Tigers d Singleton Greyhounds 30-6
Round five draw:
Saturday 29 May –
(At Aberdeen)
12.50pm: under-18s, Aberdeen v Werris Creek
2pm: reserve grade, Aberdeen v Greta Branxton
(At Murrurundi)
Noon: blues tag, Murrurundi v Aberdeen
(At Merriwa)
3.30pm: blues tag, Merriwa v Singleton
4.30pm: reserve grade, Merriwa v Singleton
Sunday 30 May –
(At Muswellbrook)
11.30am: trial, G21 U14s v Bulldogs
12.30pm: trial, G21 U15s v Bulldogs
1.30pm: reserve grade, Muswellbrook v Murrurundi
3pm: first grade, Muswellbrook v Singleton
(At Scone)
10.20am: blues tag, Scone v Denman
11.20am: under-18s, Scone v Singleton
12.30pm: reserve grade, Scone v Denman
2pm: first grade, Scone v Denman
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