By Tallon Smith

The Tullibigeal-Lakes United Sharks have won their second game in a row after earning a hard fought 18-10 victory over the Griffith Waratah Tigers at the Lake Cargelligo Recreation Ground on Sunday.

The win sees the wooden spooners from last season move to equal fifth on the ladder after six rounds, behind West Wyalong and the Waratahs on points differential.

Sharks skipper Nathan Morris said that the win was a big one for the club, as they continue to build in 2024 after a tough few seasons.

“It was a big win, we haven’t had a win at home either this year, we’ve had a couple on the road, but it was good to get one at home,” he said.

“We knew it was going to be hard, they’re a big side and they’re coming off [some] pretty good wins the last few weeks so I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

“The ground was heavy, I don’t know if it helped us or not, but we didn’t have a player that didn’t do their job, and that’s what we’re all about.

“[If] every bloke does their job and we know we’re gonna be thereabouts.”

Morris said that the fact the club has enough numbers to have separate Reserve and Forst Grade squads this season means that players are fresh, something that has contributed to their success this season.

“Colin [Ward, TLU President] made mention of it last year, the boys back up, they play rules on the Saturday, [and] last year they were playing two games [of league],” he said.

“[In] one game we had three blokes that were fresh and all the boys played Reserve Grade and came back on.”

“We don’t have to do that this year, so top five is [our] aspiration, anything can happen from there, [but] we’ve got to keep winning, and obviously it’s going to be a tough comp. 

“We haven’t had a lot of success in recent times, but we’ve got to get used to winning and I think that’s starting to click.”

Amongst the tryscorers today were Max Jones and Jaden Kelly, two players Morris said have been important in the side’s strong start to the year.

“[Jaden], he doesn’t even have to play well to have an influence, he makes all the other boys stand up and stand a bit taller and just having him there is enough like his presence,” he said.

“No one wants to let him down, he’s a competitor and we wouldn’t trade him for anyone, he’s just a leader.

“Max Jones, so he played last year for us, he’s a good mate to all the boys, he’s actually the brother to Bobby Jones, that plays for West Wyalong. 

“He’s just a natural footballer and he’s good to have around the club, all the boys love him, he’s always there doing his best. 

“He’s a good footballer, but he’s also a personality and you need those blokes, [and] we’re very happy to have him because he can play footy as well.”

Morris also told Battlers For Bush Footy to make mention of young stars Mason Kirby and Koden Bell, who both made their First Grade debuts in the match.

In other games, the Leeton Greenies continued their winning ways in their title defence, recording a 40-22 win over the Hay Magpies at the Leeton No.1 Oval. 

Fears of a major blowout surfaced when the Greenies led 40-6 early in the second half, but a fighting display from the Magpies reduced the margin to a respectable 18 points by the final siren.

Meanwhile, the Griffith Black and Whites had to fight hard to get the win against a resurgent West Wyalong outfit, eventually taking the two points 22-18.

The Mallee Men led 18-12 after an hour and looked set to cause a major boilover, but two late tries to Epeli Serukabaivata and Paula Naideke saw the Black and Whites get out of jail and avoid a second consecutive loss.

Meanwhile, all eyes were on Coleambally as the Yanco-Wamoon Hawks played their first game after their re-grading into Reserve Grade, with the men in maroon and white eventually going down 48-6 to a determined Darlington Point-Coleambally.

First Grade captain Guy Thompson dropped down a grade to steer DPC’s reserves to their second on-field win for the year (to go along with a win by forfeit over West Wyalong), while the Hawks’ decision was justified by the scoreline, with a more competitive game giving space for their squad to gain some much needed experience.

Other Reserve Grade games saw wins to Leeton 34-6 over Hay, the Black and Whites 30-10 over West Wyalong, and TLU over Waratahs by forfeit.

In League Tag, DPC beat Yanco-Wamoon 62-0, TLU defeated Waratahs 18-0, Leeton scored a 48-0 win over Hay, and the Black and Whites handed West Wyalong their first defeat in a thriller 14-12, while in the final Women’s Tackle game, the Black and Whites beat West Wyalong 32-0.