Cover Photo: Gemma Clarke
Tallon Smith
The Griffith Waratah Tigers remain unbeaten at the halfway mark of the Group 20 season after securing a 32-point victory over the Yenda Blueheelers at Wade Park on Sunday.
Led by doubles to Sina Tatofi and Fili Mahe, the Tigers ran in six tries to one for a 36-4 victory over their local rivals in front of a healthy crowd.
Waratahs co-coach Brett Goldspink said the side’s strong start helped to set up the victory, with the visitors dominating possession in the first half.
“I think our first 30 minutes set the platform for the whole game,” Goldspink said.
“Through the first half we [had] double the possession [that] Yenda had, so I knew pretty much that they wouldn’t have much left in the tank.”
The Tigers started the match fast, with Tatofi crossing for the first two tries of the match, followed by another out wide to Ulu Akolo, with a penalty goal taking the half time score out to 18-0.
A scuffle on the other side of the break saw two players sent to the sin bin, and Yenda hit back soon after, when Broden Piva raced in to score and acrobatic try in the corner.
However, that would be the extent of the Blueheelers’ fightback, with the Tigers adding three more tries for a comfortable victory.
In terms of standout players in his side’s victory, Goldspink said it has been hard to single out individual players during the team’s eight-game winning run, but gave praise to Akolo and two of his forwards.
“We have gone eight or nine games now and haven’t lost, so it’s hard to give a man of the match each week to one player, because it’s obviously consistent across the park,” he said.
“The standouts yesterday were Ulu [Akolo], coach Willie Lolohea and Sione Tulahe, who pretty much came from the bench, he played 80 minutes actually and was outstanding in his job at second row.
“Our wingers, we have got strength right across our backline, and for them to finish off both sides, it’s great.”
Despite all the fanfare around the side remaining unbeaten, there is a cautiousness to the optimism at the Exies Oval.
After being in the exact same position midway through last year, the Tigers dropped four of their final five games to limp into the finals, before blowing a 20-point lead in the preliminary final against Hay.
When asked what will be different this time around, Goldspink said Waratahs’ depth has them better placed to deal with injuries and disruptions to their squad this season.
“The biggest thing for us this year is our squad, and I honestly think probably our squad got us over Yanco,” he said.
“I think Yanco’s 13, the way they play, is probably better than our 13, the way we play at the moment.
“There’s probably four guys in our squad that are playing reserve grade that I can call up.
“We have got depth, and when we get the injuries, we have got cover.
“Unfortunately for me and Willie, which is a good position to be in, we have got to make the hard decision of telling first graders they can’t play.”
Looking at other results from around Group 20, Leeton continued its winning ways with a 34-24 away win over West Wyalong at Ron Crowe Oval.
Six different tryscorers crossed the line for the Greenies in the victory, which sees the side remain in outright third, a game ahead of the Mallee Men.
The Griffith Black and Whites were also in the winners’ circle, after emerging from Darlington Point with a 26-14 victory over the DPC Roosters.
The Griffith club was powered by a pair of doubles from Isaiahs, with Isaiah Buerckner-Little and Isaiah Nauer each crossing for two tries to secure two crucial competition points.
Finally, the remaining first grade game saw the Yanco-Wamoon Hawks overpower the Hay Magpies 48-6 at the Hay Park Oval.
Kennedy Auhava, John Wharepapa-Rawiri and Caleb Atkinson all scored doubles for the visitors in the 42-point win, which keeps the Hawks one game behind Waratahs after their 18-10 loss to the competition leaders in round eight.
Tevita Mahe Memorial Shield
Prior to the first grade fixture at Yenda, the Blueheelers defeated the Waratah Tigers to reclaim the Tevita Mahe Memorial Shield.
Zaviea Connor scored both of the Yenda side’s tries in the match, which honours the Yenda club legend and father of fullback Salesi Fatafehi.
Other reserve grade results were: Darlington Point-Coleambally 22 d Griffith Black and Whites 18, Yanco-Wamoon 36 d Hay 10, Narrandera 40 d Tullibigeal-Lakes United 12, Leeton 40 d West Wyalong 4.
