SCONE remained unbeaten but had to overpower Muswellbrook with a late surge for an unimpressive 14-point win, Greta Branxton withstood a second half surge from Aberdeen Tigers for a 12-point win and Denman Devils added to the Singleton Greyhounds’ disappointing season in A Plus Contracting Group 21 clashes on the weekend.
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The Devils beat a struggling Singleton by 20 points with Jarred Castledine, and young lock Blake Andrews Singleton’s best.
Greta Branxton Colts played Aberdeen Tigers on a cold night in a late 7pm start at McKinnon Field, Aberdeen Saturday and after leading 16-nil at half-time won 28-16.
“It was a pretty scrappy match,” Colts coach Ron Griffith told The Leader last night.
“We had a few on the injured list but I was extremely happy with the boys at half time.
“They challenged our goal line defence a few times but we stood firm. We spoke about it at half time but Aberdeen scored in the first set of six in the second half.
“We were pretty ordinary in the second half but Aberdeen did play well.”
The Colts were missing regular halves Joey Griffiths and Jobe Patten.
At Scone Park the unbeaten Thoroughbreds won ugly again against a Muswellbrook Rams side missing captain-coach Josh Pearsol and six other regular first graders.
“We led them 18-16 with 15 minutes to go,” Pearsol told The Leader.
“But we dropped off at the end.
“While we had seven first graders out seven of the first grade side played a full game in either Under 18s or reserves before playing first grade.
“Everyone in the club really stepped up today.”
Jacobe Dowe, Jeff Saariko and Under 18 prop Rohan Pottinger were outstanding, Pearsol said.
“Rohan’s been coming up from Under 18s every week and plays like he’s been playing first grade for years.”
Scone captain-coach Daniel Ritter was disappointed with his side’s performance.
“We were pretty poor,” he said.
“We dropped too much ball; kept giving it back to them in good positions.
“Muswellbrook kept coming at us too. We had to put our heads down, hold the ball and complete our sets of six. The boys did the hard work, completed our sets and we scored some good team tries.”
James Barker and Matt Finlayson were the Thoroughbreds’ best as the competition goes to a general bye this weekend, returning to the field on July 12/13.