Cover Photo: Emmy McMahon
Tallon Smith
Tullibigeal-Lakes United has extended its winning streak to five games and moved within one point of a top three spot in Group 20 after defeating Leeton 22-10 at the Leeton No.1 Oval on Sunday.
In a hard-fought match where scores were level after 47 minutes of play, the Sharks crossed twice in the final 15 minutes to close the gap on the third-placed Greenies with a four-point swing on the ladder.
TLU halfback Jaden Kelly said the result was an “exciting” one for the side, as it continues to dream of a return to the finals for the first time in nearly a decade.
“We haven’t beaten a team above us on the ladder so far this year, so it was good to finally see where we are at and get a win over one of the competition favourites,” he said.
“It was a pretty good grind, Leeton didn’t go away … and it was pretty pleasing to get away with the win because a lot of times in the past we could probably let that one slip.
“It was good to kick on in the second half and get a good win.”
After the Sharks raced out to a 4-0 lead, the Greenies hit back quickly through fullback Kyson Freer, who danced wide off a pass from Charlie Watson to slice through and dive over.
Five-eighth Bobby Jones put TLU back in front 10-4 heading into the break after stepping his way over, but the scores were level again six minutes into the second half when Caydan Hillier found a charging Mason Payne who crashed over.
Jones again had a hand in the Sharkies’ next four-pointer, with his kick being spilled by the Greenies, allowing Tristin Johnson to pick up the scraps and score, with Jaden Kelly breaking the line late and linking with Sinelle Thorpe who raced away to put the icing on the cake for a 12-point win.
Kelly was full of praise for the performance of the side’s fullback, with the match-sealing try reward for individual effort in a comprehensive team showing.
“It was a pretty good team effort to be honest, but Sinelle Thorpe was probably by far the best for us,” Kelly said.
“He was pretty safe out back, [took] a lot of tough carries and he just had a really good game.”
After a very healthy crowd attended last weekend’s victory over Yenda, the hype is continuing to grow around the Sharks this season, with the club all but certain to return to the postseason following Sunday’s result.
Ahead of two massive home games against local rivals West Wyalong at Tullibigeal and top two side Waratahs at Lake Cargelligo, Kelly said TLU’s form has provided a major boost to the towns it represents, but the side is remaining grounded.
“The community is loving it, we have been getting massive crowds to the home games and a bit of a buzz around the town which comes with winning,” he said.
“You probably don’t really realise it until you say it, that it’s five in a row, but we were in a period there not long ago where we lost four in a row so you can’t get too ahead of yourself.
“[You] just enjoy them while they are coming.”
As for the upcoming derby with the Mallee Men on Sunday, Kelly said the last five weeks won’t be a factor when the whistle blows to start what shapes as the most highly anticipated battle between the sides in many years.
“I say it all the time, a week is a long time in footy, you can lose momentum [as] quick as you can gain it, so hopefully we can keep playing well and we will see what happens on the day.”
Leeton’s next match will also be a local derby, with the Greenies hosting top of the table Yanco-Wamoon on Saturday at 5:30pm.
TULLIBIGEAL-LAKES UNITED 22 (B. Jones, T. Johnson, S. Thorpe, private player tries; J. Kelly 3 goals) DEFEATED LEETON 10 (K. Freer, M. Payne tries; J. Latu goal) at Leeton No.1 Oval, Sunday July 12.
