GRETA Branxton Colts need to improve to ensure they are a premiership threat in the 2014 A Plus Contracting Group 21 first grade competition.
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That was the main point to surface out of Saturday night’s 28-10 win over Aberdeen Tigers at Greta Oval.
At Muswellbrook yesterday, Country fullback Tim Smith was in brilliant form approaching this weekend’s Greater Northern Championships, crossing for five tries in Scone’s 54-16 win over Muswellbrook Rams at Olympic Park.
“One was a 100m effort from a kick return,” Scone captain-coach Daniel Ritter said.
“He blitzed them up the sideline. It was a great performance from him, especially with this weekend’s rep games in Tamworth.”
Denman Devils will welcome the rep break to freshen up, said captain-coach Blake Dureau after a 34-6 victory at ResCo Park, Singleton.
“Our first half set it up,” Dureau said.
“We led 24-6 at half time and then scored a try early in the second half.”
He said some showers then helped turn the match into a scrappy match.
Prop Duncan Collins was Denman’s best, with fullback Jake Green also impressive, while 17-year-old Hamish Wolfgang came onto the wing and scored three tries.
At Greta Oval, the Colts were good in patches, coach Ron Griffiths said.
“We’re still a long way off the mark,” Griffiths said yesterday after the 18-point win.
“Five games in and we are nowhere where we want to be.
“We completed 50 per cent against Aberdeen – that’s no- where near good enough.”
He believes the only positive is that his side has had three wins and a draw while playing at a level well below par.
He said Aberdeen started well, led early and then his side clicked into better shape to wrest control before lapsing again before halftime.
He said fullback Josh Griffiths was one of his best and might be starting to realise the potential he had.
Centre Andrew Roberts was also “rock-solid”.
Aberdeen’s young captain-coach Daniel Hoogerwerf was disappointed with some near misses in the second half.
“We had three tries disallowed,” Hoogerwerf said.
“Our first half was poor but we played a lot better in the second half.
“We showed we have got some good stuff, we just can’t play it for 80 minutes.”
He thought Cameron Savage was his best.
Savage, who plays in head gear, has been one of the side’s best up front all season with Maurie Marsh.
Backrower Clinton Blenman also worked hard throughout and young fullback Blake Robinson made a good first grade debut.
“He’s been playing well in reserve grade and came up for his first grade debut.
“He also scored a try and should have got another.”
He said playing Scone next will be another tough assignment for his young but improving side.
“It’s for the John Lawler Cup,” he said of an annual Cup match named in honour of a “real good bloke”.