Tallon Smith
The Wagga Kangaroos gave their finals chances a crucial boost after securing their first back-to-back wins of the season in emphatic fashion with a 40-0 shutout of Wagga Brothers at Geohex Park on Sunday.
The Roos dominated the clash from start to finish to make it two from two against their co-tenants at the East Wagga venue this season and pick up a second straight victory over a cross-town rival after last week’s defeat of Southcity.
With every win crucial as the race to secure a place in the playoffs heats up, Kangaroos coach Zeik Foster said the importance of Saturday’s result, which draws the side level on 12 points with fifth-placed Cootamundra, cannot be understated.
“It was huge in the context of our season,” he said.
“We didn’t get off to the greatest start, we haven’t been a consistent footy side at all, so it was really pleasing to win two weeks in a row.
“If we want to make finals, which we do, it was basically a must-win for us.”
Winger Joel Kelly opened the scoring for the Kangaroos in just the sixth minute of the game after stepping his way to the line, paving the way for two more first half tries to James Hay and Brayden O’Reilly to open up an 18-0 half time lead.
That advantage grew six minutes into the second stanza when Saxon Gilles crashed over, and when Dakota Ruta broke the Brothers defensive line off a short ball from Foster and linked with O’Reilly for his second, the scoreline had reached 30-0 after 55 minutes.
Not done yet, the Roos had more points when Kelly found space out wide and raced down the sideline, with the ball finding its way inside to John Downes who ran in to score, before the pair linked again late to complete Downes’ double in the shadows of full time.
Following what is statistically the side’s most complete performance of the season so far, Foster was happy with not only the result but the manner in which the side achieved it.
“Scoreboard aside, [I’m] more happy with the way we played in general,” he said.
“I thought we were pretty good in attack, we promoted the ball well, and then obviously keeping any side to zero is very pleasing, so I was really happy with the boys’ attitude in defence as well, I thought we really showed up for one another.”
Meanwhile, after returning to the side’s line-up last week following an extended layoff due to injury, Foster praised Downes’ ability to play out of position, as well as the recent form of fellow multiple tryscorer O’Reilly.
“Johnny Downes, he ended up in a bit of a mister fix-it role, he started in the back row for us on the left side, and ended up at right centre to cover Dakota [Ruta], who went off with some tightness,” he said.
“Braydo, I was really happy with him, I feel like this game has been coming for a few weeks for him.
“He has been growing in confidence, but it was awesome to see him get a double there on Saturday.”
The Kangaroos will feature at Geohex Park again this weekend when they host Temora in the Challenge Cup with a +6.5 start on Saturday, while Brothers will travel to Gundagai to face the Tigers.
WAGGA KANGAROOS 40 (Braiden O’Reilly 2, John Downes 2, Joel Kelly, James Hay, Saxon Gillies tries) DEFEATED WAGGA BROTHERS 0 at Geohex Park, Saturday July 18.
