DESPITE having three key players out, the Phantoms continued their winning streak on Saturday at No. 1 Oval. Leeton crushed Tumut, 36-7, in round 10 of the Southern Inland Rugby Union competition.
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Marika Vunibaka, Stuart Dyer and Wilson Feagai were all missing from the game, but are expected to return for the start of the premier division.
Co-coach Liam Ward could not have been more pleased with his team’s wave of success.
“The score might reflect we gave them a belting but that wasn’t the case,” he said.
“It was a good win. They (Tumut) are a solid team, they are bred tough in the mountains.
“They play no-nonsense, old school rugby. They met with defence and tackled very well.”
With the missing team members, Ward said the players that stepped up were the standouts of the game.
“Michael Wright filled in and was the best player, he won’t be dropped from (the) first grade,” he said.
Ward said Wright was well supported by Luke Collins.
“Brandon Emerson just gets better and better. When we are in trouble he pops up and helps, he attacks at the right moment,” he said.
“All these good footy players, ready to play first grade, it’s a great position for us coaches to be in.”
Play-maker James Moore came off with an AC injury, but Ward isn’t too concerned about its severity and expects him to be fit for this week’s challenge against Griffith.
“We executed well, took the right options at the right moments,” Ward said.
“We are in the top division now, which was one of our goals.”
Ward said defence provided by front rowers Dan Patu and Solomon Fili made the Phantoms win.
“We pride ourselves on our defence,” he said.
Tries were scored by Eden Smith 2, Maika Ravouvou, Farrel Moata, Emerson and Joe Kafoa-Penne. Conversions by Moata 2 and Moore.
In preparing for their next game, Ward said nothing will change much.
“We will take it week by week and brainstorm what we want to achieve”.
Results
2nd Grade: Phantoms 17 (tries Luca Derumier, Max Graham, Luke Talakuli, 1 conversion by Brendan Corney) d Tumut 5
3rd Grade: Tumut 26 d Phantoms 20 (tries Samuel Wallace, Luca Derumier, Ben Bagust, Koli Waqanivalu. No conversions).