By Peter (Parra) Montgomery

A masterclass performance by Young Cherrypickers playmaker Tom Demeio highlighted the Premiers comfortable 44-10 win over Albury Thunder in round 2 of Group 9 premiership played at Alfred Oval, Young on Saturday.

Demeio opened the scoring for the Cherrypickers in the third minute, and played a part in the other seven tries scored by his team in the match.

Demeio took advantage of a stellar performance by the Premiers huge – and mobile – pack of forwards led by coach Tom Giles, and was able to guide the side around the field to advantage.

Demeio contributed 16 of his team’s points with a try and six goals from seven attempts, and he produced a Mitch Moses type effort in the way he dominated the game.

The Thunder suffered a blow before the game with the withdrawal of Clayton Couley, and during the match lost its two big men – both props, Nathan Darby and Faone Fakatava to injury.

Darby lasted just twenty minutes after injuring a knee, while Fatalava was on the end of an absolute ‘bell-ringer’ put on him by Young’s ‘hit man’ Jake Morgan.

Fakatava was taken from the field with concussion.

To the Thunder’s credit, the players did not give up and kept performing until the full-time siren.

Five-eighth Paul Kariatiana, centre Sebastian Nelson and fullback Lachy Munro all shone at some stage of the match.

Karitiana produced several dazzling moments that led to the tries scored by the Thunder.

He combined with Munro to put half-back Osika Kaufononga over in the corner to bring the score to 12-6 with conversion by Vili Cerei, and in the second half produced an accurate bomb for Nelson to regather and score in a handy position.

However from then on it was a one way procession with the home-side producing a power brand of Rugby League.

The Young forwards have size and mobility with replacement prop Isaac Isaac Matalavea-Booth a “man mountain’ in stature.

The game produced a great memory for Young winger Jake Veney who scored three tries in his 100th first grade game for the Club.

Veney is a very popular member of the Cherrypickers, and his ‘try scoring’ feats were well received by his team-mates and supporters.

The Cherrypickers also have a very good player in centre Jake Kambos, who played in the 2022 World Cup representing Greece.

He came on a a replacement and made his presence felt immediately producing several long runs into the Albury defence.

BEST FOR CHERRYPICKERS – Tom Delmeio, Jake Morgan, Jake Kambos, Jesse Corcoran, Jake Walker

BEST FOR THUNDER – Paul Kariatina, Lachlan Munro, Blake Grounds

YOUNG CHERRYPICKERS 44 (Jake Veney 3,Tom Giles, Isaac Matalavea-Booth, Jayke Hogan, Jake Walker, Tom Demeio tries; Demeio 6 goals) defeated ALBURY THUNDER 10 (Sebastian Nelson, Osika Kaufononga tries; Vili Cerei 1 goal)