DENMAN Devils produced one of their finest Group 21 footballing efforts at Greta Oval yesterday when the reigning premiers, decimated by injury and unavailability, beat the Greta Branxton Colts 40-10.
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While Muswellbrook Rams continued their winning run with a 52-10 victory over Aberdeen Tigers on Saturday and unbeaten competition leaders smacked Singleton Greyhounds 48-2 at Scone Park yesterday, the Devils were astounding their own coach.
Blake Dureau is a local junior who has played in some handy teams in various competitions but the outstanding pivot was left stunned by the way his side put together a 40-10 win over a side it beat in last year’s G21 grand final at Denman Oval.
“This was something special,” Dureau said.
“We were very disappointing last week (beaten by Muswellbrook) but this week we bounced back with a heap of blokes out.
“We had to pull five Under 18s up as well as a young kid from reserve grade.
“And we only played with 16.
“It was brilliant, unbelievable,” he said.
“This is one of the best wins I’ve been involved with.
“It’s amazing to play so well too, to produce a perfect performance like that.
“You would say it’s unrealistic but you had to see it to believe it.
“All these young kids did such a great job.”
Divisional star Ben Hagan, after being man of the match and players’ player at Singleton’s ResCo Park on Saturday, couldn’t back up.
Another star, Garry McKeon, was also out, Dureau said.
“We had four other first graders out too.
“And the kids who came in played so well.
“I just told them a few basic things before the game but then they just click and not just win but win convincingly.”
Isaac Richardson and Cameron French were outstanding.
“They were the two youngest players out there,” Dureau said.
“Cameron played fullback.
“It was his first grade debut for us and he was outstanding.
“Isaac played lock, a bit of prop as well.
“He played a little first grade for us last year and has just finished playing SG Ball for Newcastle Knights.
“He had a blinder too.”
Also outstanding were the Scone Thoroughbreds.
They were playing a Greyhound side missing Clinton Tull, Russell Richards and Craig Edwards but still produced another impressive effort.
Leading 22-nil at half-time, they controlled the game throughout, captain-coach Daniel Ritter said.
“We didn’t play as well as I would have liked in the first half attacking-wise but our defence was pretty solid.”
Singleton had prop Luke Holtz sent off after 20 minutes.
For Scone, backrower Matt Finlayson was outstanding .
“He’s been a great pick-up this year for us,” Ritter said.
“And Tim Smith scored another three tries.”