By Tallon Smith

The Junee Diesels have sensationally broken through for their first win this year in Group 9 First Grade by virtue of holding on for a nail biting 30-28 win over fellow battlers South City.

The club, which had not recorded a win across all grades since Round 5, also won their Under 16 and Ladies League Tag fixtures, whilst the Reserves lost by just two points. 

And as for the First Grade triumph, it broke a 690-day drought going back to August 8th 2020, when the club got their only win in round four of the COVID-shortened seven round competition over the Wagga Kangaroos by 20 points to 12.

Diesels President David Holt said that the win on the weekend was amazing for the town.

“It’s been a week,” he proclaimed to Battlers For Bush Footy.

“We celebrated a bit on Sunday afternoon.

“It was a victory we needed.

“But it’s business as usual.”

The Diesels President said that the ending to the match was tense, with the side’s depth tested by injury, and the Bulls coming home with a wet sail at the end.

“You can’t take anything away from South City,” Holt said.

“The Diesels looked pretty much in control of the match for the majority of it.

“Unfortunately we only played 15 players, and we lost two key players in the last ten minutes.

“There was 16 minutes to go and we were 30-10 [up].

“[But] they put enough points on in the match that we scraped in a victory.”

Holt said that the season has been centred around “building” the club after a difficult past few years which saw the club unable to enter a First Grade side.

“In all honesty the last two years have been survival,” he said.

“At the end of 2020 there was pretty much nothing within the Diesels.

“We’re just laying the foundation blocks down [this year].”

Holt especially mentioned the club’s band of 19 year old stars who stepped up to the plate in First Grade this season.

“[Initially], we didn’t want them in week in and week out in First Grade,” he said.

“The plan was the back end of the season to get them in there.

“But because our depth isn’t that good, those blokes have stepped up 200%.

“A lot of the senior blokes like Daniel Foley and Hayden Diggins hadn’t played a game with the likes of Will McDermott, Blayne Linsell and Sam Sainsbury [before this season].”

The President also believes that there is a great core within this current team, which if retained, could set the club up well going into the future.

“There’s a lot of talent there, that’s for sure,” he said.

“Going into Round 1, everything was unknown.

“[But] the team we put on the paddock surprised Josh McCrone [Temora Coach, opponents in Round 1].

“We had a bloke sent off before half time [in that game], that was the problem.

“[But they’ve been] definitely competitive since Round 1.”

The Diesels’ next assignment is to face rivals Temora again, this time at home, on Sunday afternoon at Laurie Daley Oval (Willow Park).

Temora, Tumut also victorious in Round 9

The Temora Dragons moved to second place with a victory over the Albury Thunder in a crucial game at Nixon Park on Saturday. The Thunder fought back to level the scores at 24-all in the final stages, before the Dragons raced over to score the matchwinner and take the two points. The loss has seen the Thunder drop to 4th place on the competition table.

In the other game, Tumut defeated the Wagga Kangaroos 12-6 in a defensive encounter at Twickenham Oval in Tumut. The Blues now sit 1st, while the Premiership favourite ‘Roos have fallen out of the top 5 for the first time this season.

Fundraiser

On another note, the Junee club is planning a fundraiser for the mother of a former player who was involved in a tragic accident, who is now facing a serious health battle of her own.

The fundraiser will see Holt lose his famous locks, which form one of the most iconic hairdos in Group 9, in support of Kirrily McGregor, the mother of former Diesel Jordan McGregor.

Holt’s hair has been braided into 26 braids, with each valued at $100  in what is being called “Holty’s Chop”.

And the hair will also be put to good use.

“The locks are going to sustainable salons, who make wigs for people going through cancer treatment [amongst other things].”

Those interested in helping out the fundraiser can get involved via the club’s Facebook page.

Cover Photo: Junee fullback Daniel Foley takes on the South City defence on Sunday (Supplied: Junee Diesels)