WEST Lions rediscovered their speed game at the expense of Moree in their Group 4 massacre at Scully Park on
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Saturday.
West won 82-6 in a romp where they powered up the middle and danced down the flanks, scoring 15 tries with centre Luke White converting 12.
Halfback Matt Nean scored three in an explosive effort while lanky fullback Beau White, centre Sean Nean, winger Adam Ruttley and replacement Wayne-Roy Nean all scored twice.
“We wanted to get back our speed game,” West coach Tony La Chiusa said.
“We also wanted to get a good start because we have been slow out of the blocks the last few games.
“And we did get a good start and it flowed from there.
“We wanted to take control of the ruck early and did.
“Having Shane Salvadore back was a boost and with him and Rolls (Scott Rolls) and Vids (Chris Vidler) real good up front and Chrissy Hunt as well, it opens up for Matty and Brendo (Brendan Hunt).
“When we play like that we’re hard to beat and hopefully we’re back to that style.”
The only disappointment for West was a left knee injury to Salvadore midway through the second half.
“That’s disappointing for him and for us,” La Chiusa said.
“He’s only just come back from injury and it was no surprise he helped get the forwards rolling today.”
Moree Boars had little to cheer about.
The Boars were missing more than half their regular side due to injuries and work commitments but were no match for the Lions on a gloomy afternoon where even their young prop, Hayden Wiblen, came off second best to Nean in some fisticuffs.
Nean dropped the much larger Wiblen with a right cross late in a game where winger Richard Smith also spent 10 minutes in the bin late in the game.
A tackle from Ashley Churchland on West fullback Beau White was one of the few highlights, the young centre rocking White late in the game.
“We had a dig,” coach Todd Mitchell said.
“That’s about it.
“ We’ve had a hard time of it this year, especially now with the cotton and the wheat and some of the boys working on the council fixing up the roads.
“You can’t blame the boys who are working.
“They’re getting 500 and 600 bucks a weekend to work.
“It just puts a big strain on everyone else.”
Mitchell was picking up players at 10am Saturday on his way to Tamworth for the match.
“They (West) were just too good for us,” he said.
Alex and Marshall Barker, halfback Tom Ryan and hooker Craig Rutledge were the pick of the Boars, who play Narrabri at home this Sunday when they will celebrate Luke Raveneau’s 200th first grade game for the club.
Raveneau will join a select band of Boars and become just the sixth Moree player, and the second in his family, to have played 200 first grade games when he steps out against Narrabri.
Alf Hardman, Max Scott, Arthur (Tich) Henderson, Ivan Shearer and Paul Raveneau, Luke’s older brother, have completed the milestone.
Paul played 214 first grade games, 63 reserve grade and 50 junior games for the club in his career and amassed 172 tries and one goal.
His younger brother has scored 151 tries and kicked three goals in 199 first grade games as well as playing two second grade and 27 Under 18 games.