Tallon Smith
A scintillating first half saw the Griffith Black and Whites retain the Noel Gale Centenary Cup for another year in a high-scoring 64-26 shootout at Solar Mad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
A total of 90 points were scored in the match, with the Griffith outfit turning a 40-point half time lead into a crucial for-and-against boosting win in the context of the battle for fifth position on the table.
Black and Whites coach Kodie Charles said he was pleased with the display the side put on for its home fans on what was a big day for the club, with its ball drop fundraiser coinciding with the local derby.
“[I’m] happy with the performance, we got a few points up, probably leaked a few in, [and] probably made a few more changes than I usually planned on doing to give the younger fellas a run,” he said.
“It was actually good to see the boys having fun out there and enjoying it, and seeing a good bit of shape, because we have been trying to throw a bit of shape at training, and we just haven’t been putting it on the field.
“To go and see it today in the first half, it was a credit to the boys.”
The Black and Whites opened the scoring through skipper Will Charles, who doubled up almost immediately after running through several Yenda defenders for his second.
Isaiah Nauer was the next to cross out wide, before Charles completed his hat-trick inside the opening quarter of the game.
Feleti Faigafa hit back for the Blueheelers to reduce the deficit to 20-4, but that try was cancelled out fourfold soon after when Sireli Vulaono and Vaai Vaai crossed, before Isaiah Buerckner-Little stepped his way to the line and Josh Rongokea crashed over to extend the home side’s lead to 44-4 at the break.
Things appeared to be heading the same way as the first half when Rongokea scored his second a minute after the break, but the Blueheelers fought back, with a kick from a scrum by half Salesi Fatafehi setting up a try to back rower Dane O’Connor.
Centre Kelvin Simpson responded with the next try for Griffith, but it was Fatafehi again who gave Yenda more reason to cheer with a fantastic individual effort, followed by another four-pointer to co-coach Tre Holten-Williams.
However, it was the Black and Whites’ day, and two late tries to Epeli Serukabaivata and Kelvin Simpson prior to another consolation effort to Blueheelers winger Chaise Donetto secured a 38-point win and snapped a three-game losing streak.
One of a number of strong performers for the Black and Whites was five-eighth Buerckner-Little, who was instrumental in the side’s incredible attacking display in the opening half.
While he praised a number of players, including hooker Matty Adams and lock Sireli Vulaono, Charles said Buerckner-Little was one of the best players on the field.
“Isaiah went really well … just putting the boys where they need to be, when we get good ball, just directing them and having good shape,” he said.
“[It was] probably some of the better shape that we’ve [had] all year, and it’s just his voice.
“Him and Gossy [Gospel Toru] work really well together.”
Black & Whites on pace in finals race
With the win and West Wyalong losing to Tullibigeal-Lakes United in the other Sunday fixture, the Black and Whites sit just two points behind the fifth-placed Mallee Men, who they will host next Sunday.
When asked about his side’s chances of beating West Wyalong and seventh-placed Darlington Point-Coleambally for fifth position, Charles said the Black and Whites believe they will be there when the postseason begins.
“I reckon we are a good chance of getting there,” he said.
“After today I think it’s going to boost the morale, and I think it’s going to give us more confidence leading into the semis if we do make it.”
As for next week’s clash with the Mallee Men and the final round showdown with the Roosters, Charles believes the Black and Whites have what it takes to capitalise on the opportunity of two four-point swings on the ladder, but said the side needs to defend its mistakes in order to give itself a chance.
“I think we are quite capable of beating them when we play them next week, and play the Point again,” he said.
“We’ve got to hold them out, that is one of our biggest things at the moment, and with Wyalong too, we have got to learn to protect our errors.
“Every time we [commit] an error, bang, they score, so we have got to just stop that.
“Once we hit our straps and we are performing like we are, definitely, I think we are better.”
Positives for Yenda in second stanza
Meanwhile, there was a positive for the injury-hit Blueheelers, with the side showcasing its resilience to win the second half on the scoreboard 22-20.
Hooker Bodhi Brady said it was “good” for the side to be rewarded for effort with four second half tries.
“We just played footy I guess, we had a bit of confidence in ourselves,” he said.
“It was unfortunate with the result, but happy with the second half.”
Yenda will enjoy a much-needed two weeks off with a bye followed by the general bye for the Junee Junior Carnivals, before travelling to West Wyalong on August 9.
GRIFFITH BLACK & WHITES 64 (William Charles 3, Josh Rongokea 2, Kelvin Simpson 2, George Vito, Sireli Vulaono, Vaai Vaai, Epeli Serukabaivata tries; Matty Adams 6, Isaiah Buerckner-Little 2 goals) DEFEATED YENDA 26 (Feleti Faigafa, Dane O’Connor, Salesi Fatafehi, Tre Holten-Williams, Chaise Donetto tries; Bodhi Brady 3 goals) at Solar Mad Stadium, Sunday July 19.
