THE Greens had a night they would rather forget on Saturday.
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Leeton travelled to Griffith to take on the Waratahs and were crushed 50-6.
Coach Brent Pike put it down to injury, players that weren’t available and the representative clash earlier in the day.
The Greens had three players take part in that contest before making the trip back to Griffith to strap the boots on again.
“We probably had another 5 or 6 out with injuries or they were unavailable due to work,” Pike said.
“It’s not an excuse, but all of those things did have an effect.
“We also had players backing up after playing a full game in reserves, so we were pretty fatigued.”
The home side scored the first four tries through Malile Ngu, Sione Tulahe and a double to Adam Twigg before Leeton hit back with their only try of the game though Clinton Green.
The Waratahs put their foot down to score 36 unanswered points and run away with the game.
Leeton’s only player over the line was Clinton Green, who also converted to give the Greens their only six points of the match.
Pike would have preferred the game to have been moved to Sunday, but said that was the hand they were dealt.
“The first half I thought we weren’t too bad really,” he said.
“The boys were playing pretty good footy.
“It was only the last 20 or so minutes where we ran out of legs and Waratahs really put their foot down.”
The Greens will return home to No. 1 Oval this weekend where they will hope for a reversal in fortunes when they take on Tullibigeal Lakes United.
“We should have five or six back in this weekend I hope,” Pike said.
“The good thing about the weekend is I know and the boys know that’s not how we play or how we want to play.
“They’ll be pretty hungry to win on the weekend.”
Waratahs’ coach Chris Hanneman said it had been a scrappy game.
“To keep Leeton to six was great for us,” he said.
“That is the sort of defence we have been aiming for all season.”
The coach did feel the scoreline probably flattered them a little.