Peter (Parra) Montgomery

Albury Thunder Rugby League Club would have been delighted by the efforts of the First and Reserve Grade teams against Cootamundra Bulldogs at Les Boyd Oval Fisher Park, Cootamundra on Saturday.

Both teams recorded comfortable wins.The competition leading Reserve Grade side winning 36-0 to remain unbeaten while the First Grade posted a 52-14 result to remain in the ‘top four’ with two wins and a draw in its first four games.

Full credit to the Cootamundra Club which entered four teams into the Group 9 competitionagain this season, after five seasons absence during a ‘rebuild’.

The Bulldogs had comfortable wins in Under 18s (22-6) and League Tag (30-6) and thosevictories brought smiles to the faces of the large contingent of Cootamundra supporters who turned out to witness the day’s games.

It was a good crowd and they would have been pleased to have their teams give good accounts of themselves.

For the Albury fans at the game, the form of several players in the Club was very pleasing.

Crete Waaka was outstanding in the reserve grade win, scoring three tries and producing punishing defence.

Crete was on hand to capitalise on the work of dummy half Andrew Smith, who had a wow of a game directing his players around the ground.

Other eye-catching performance were put in by prop Sam Brodie who proved a powerhouse when coming of the ‘back fence’ bringing the ball back, halves Sam Lulia and Aidan Young, centre Joe Hill, winger Tei Miti (two tries to add to his five last week) and Jade Duroux whoscored a try and kicked four goals from his seven shots).

The Thunder had a convincing 52-14 win over Cootamundra in the First Grade clash, with several players turning in eye-catching performances.

The Bulldogs hopes were raised with the inclusion of former Canberra Raiders 150 game NRL veteran Glen Buttriss who returned ‘home’ to Cootamundra to play for the Bulldogs for the first time in a decade.

Buttriss, who played as a hooker during his time at the Raiders, slotted back into the Bulldogs,as the five-eight.

Cootamundra opened the scoring with big prop Nikola Sovatabua bollocking his way over nextto the posts in the first set of the match.

Sam Gash converted the try and the Bulldogs raced out to a 6-0 lead.

It didn’t take long for the Thunder to hit back. Big winger Ty Tinderdale was over in the corner, but was held up by the defence. He was over in the next set with Munro and Cerei combining to give him a clear run to the line.

The Thunder went into the lead with Vili Cerei scoring the first of his two sensational tries in the match.

He followed through a huge ‘up and under’ by half back Osika (Oscar) Kaufononga, which on coming ‘back to earth’- bounced up over fullback Maher’s head, and Vili soared above the full back, regathered the ball and touched down under the black dot.

The halfback has added another dimension to the Albury side’s attacking options.

He iscombining so well with Paul Karitiana in the halves, and his long kicking game, as well as his game-management is spot on.

Lachy Munro set up a try by Lachy Hampton, throwing a cut out pass to the big winger who strolled over out wide without a glove being landed on him.

Three more quick tries before half time by Karaitiana – all scored with the clever pivot slicing through, dummying and crossing in a handy position.

Conversion attempts from almost in front were missed by Cerei and Sebastian Nelson, but the Thunder was well in control with a 28-10 lead at the break.

The Bulldogs defence tightened up in the second half and it took twenty-four minutes for the Thunder to wear it down.

Karaitiana was the catalyst for the first second half try, charging into a hole and creating a change of direction for his co-captain Munro to run a good line to score under the sticks.

Hampton, taking over the kicking duties, added the extras for a 34-10 lead.

Blake Grounds, who had been in everything, scored in the 70th minute finishing off lead-up work by Hampton and Keiran Ford to barge his way over for a 44-10 lead.

Munro did most of the lead up work to put speedster Cerei into the open, and followed up the break to score his second of the match.

Jack Caldwell scored the Bulldogs third of the match, latching to a cut out pass from his centre Sam Gash to score two minutes from full time.

From the restart of play, Cootamundra lost the ball and Thunder took advantage, scoring a try from a set move, Cerei combining with Karaitiana to slice through to complete a match double.

Final points of the game came when Calvin Tautari, on debut, slotted through the conversion,much to the delight of his team-mates.

His previous shot, in reserves last week, hit the post.

For Thunder there were many contenders for best.

Co-captains Lachlan Munro and Paul Kariatiana in the halves were in everything, Vili Cerei is a special talent blessed with pace.

Clayton Couley had another mighty game in defence.

He is never far away from the ball and isa ‘blue collar’ worker that every Club needs.

Blake Grounds is Mr Reliable with a big ticker, and Reece Clegg takes plenty of containing.

The Cootamundra side is not too far away from a win.

The Bulldogs have good props in Faafetai Vaavale and Nikola Sovatabua, and Buttriss return to the Club will see those blokes developmore.