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When you are talking about dominance of an annual rugby league series, the Maroons are put in the shade by the efforts of the NSW City Police team.
City’s dominance of their Country cousins in the yearly contest stretches back to 2002.
And the metropolitan aces extended their winning streak into a 15th consecutive year courtesy of a resounding 46-18 win at Scully Park in Tamworth on Wednesday night.
Following a competitive opening 20 minutes, City grabbed a stranglehold of the contest during the latter stages of the opening stanza.
Three tries saw the boys in yellow race to an 18-0 lead at the main break.
Despite Country posing more of a threat in the second half, City never seriously looked in danger of being overhauled.
City captain Mitch West proved one of the standout performers, producing a tireless performance at lock forward.
Halves Sam O’Brien and Daniel Drewe were at the forefront of everything creative for the City side, while outside backs Anton Sahyoun and Alex Sahyoun enjoyed plenty of time and space.
The front-row of Desai Gupwell, Corey White (hooker) and David Cox also played pivotal roles for City.
City was guided to victory by Steve Ghosn, a former Western Suburbs first-grade coach, who was surely delighted with his side’s willingness to play out the full 80 minutes and their attacking enterprise.
Country’s top performers included captain-coach Brayden Sharrock, Rhys Miller and James Dine.
Sharrock, who hails from Wagga Wagga, spoke in the lead-up of trying to find some cohesion in a side drawn of players from Wollongong to Walgett. Country’s work in attack improved as the match went on, but the horse had bolted by the time they really started to find rhythm with the football.
Uralla’s Scott Swain and former Armidale Blues back Dan AhSee donned the Country maroon in the clash, played in front of a solid crowd.
The match doubles as a selection trial for the NSW Police team to play against the likes of Victoria, Northern Territory, Western Australia and South Australia at the Affiliated States Championships later in the year.
- NSW team: Anton Sahyoun, Simon Gairns, Alex Sahyoun, Daniel Drewe, James Dine, David Cox, Brayden Sharrock, Danny Lawrence, Rhys Miller, Nathan Clarke, Corey White, Ash Cooper, Sean Jenkins, Tim Pont, Mitch West, Desai Gupwell, Andy Haim, Sam O'Brien, Ben Nash, Joel Patterson, Blake Robinson, Hayden Bombaci.
