By Tallon Smith

It was billed as a must win game for the Albury Thunder against South City, and they did just that, defeating the Bulls 24-10 at Greenfield Park on Sunday afternoon.

After earlier fears of inclement weather subsided, a good crowd were treated to some quality Group 9 football, as a double to Albury centre Jackins Olam and a perfect 4 from 4 goalkicking performance from Jade Duroux helped the home side to an important victory in the context of the Group 9 finals race.

Albury Thunder Fullback Lachy Munro said that the win was a timely one for the Border outfit, as the team looks to break back into the Group 9 top five.

“I just think it’s a good confidence boost for us, especially our defence on the weekend,” he said.

“I don’t think we’ve defended like that as a team. 

“It’s coming at the right time because we’ve got the second half of the season and we just need to keep firing from here.”

With the side still a good chance of a finals berth after the four-point swing in their favour against the fifth-placed Bulls, Munro said that from that point, anything is possible.

“I think if we can just get into the finals, I reckon any team in the top five can win it on the day,” he said.

“For us, it’s just now winning close games and if we win our games, we’ll be there at the end of the season. 

“So I think if we make the finals, we can definitely have a shot at it.”

With the club celebrating Indigenous Round during the weekend’s fixture, Munro said that the occasion and the support of a big home crowd on the day helped to lift the side to the much needed win.

“There was a massive crowd on Sunday, which was awesome, and it’s good to have that support behind us and have an Indigenous Round,” he said.

“We’ve got a big Indigenous population at the club and a lot of the boys, [having] them playing and the jersey and everything going on and the crowd behind us, it was just an awesome day. 

As for the comparison between the competition and his native Group 10, the Orange CYMS product provided a glowing endorsement for Group 9.

“It’s pretty similar, pretty similar in ways, I reckon maybe Group 9 is just a little bit quicker,” he said.

“Now I’m sort of just starting to find my feet, last year, [I] probably had a bit of an off year, had a few injuries and whatnot.

“I’m just glad that we’re starting to win games and hopefully we can push to the finals.”

Looking at other First Grade games across an action packed weekend in Group 9, Kangaroos scored a comprehensive 38-6 win over Brothers in the Wagga Derby, while Young and Temora both scored identical 36-12 wins over Junee and Tumut respectively.

In upcoming fixtures this weekend, Gundagai host Kangaroos at Anzac Park in the match of the round, Temora host Wagga Brothers in the other Saturday game, while South City play Junee and Tumut face Young on Sunday, with Albury having the bye.