Tallon Smith
Kyson Freer had a day to remember as Leeton bounced back from a lean run of form with a 62-0 win over an undermanned West Wyalong in the final game of the Group 20 regular season at the Leeton No.1 Oval on Sunday.
Having picked up just one victory from the five games prior to last week’s win over Yenda by forfeit, the Galloping Greens ran in 11 tries, with Freer scoring six of those to give the side plenty of momentum heading into next weekend’s elimination final against the Griffith Black and Whites.
Leeton coach Billy Dickinson was pleased to see the side find form again and end a three-game winless run at home, albeit against an injury-hit Mallee Men team further reduced to 12 players following the loss of star five-eighth Braiden Jones 20 minutes in.
“It’s good to get back in the winners’ circle at home, we always try and pride ourselves on our home ground here and playing well here, and the last few weeks probably haven’t been up to that standard,” he said.
“They [West Wyalong] were short on numbers and they battled all day, but it’s good to get back in the winners’ circle for us and we’re happy with how we played.
“Keeping any team to nil in this comp is a pretty good effort, so I’m happy with that.”
Having been bolstered by the inclusion of Goolgowi premiership winner Henry Taylor at fullback for his first top grade match of the season after two reserve grade appearances, the Greenies moved Freer from his usual custodian role to the wing.
That move more than paid off as the rising star ran in six tries, the most by any player in a single match this season, surprising many including Dickinson.
“I didn’t expect him to score six, he’s a handy player and wherever he is on the footy field he is going to cause some dramas for the opposition,” he said.
“He’s always got that in him and he’s someone that’s going to be there whenever the ball falls to the ground, and he’ll pick it up and he’s too quick to catch.
“He’s another local junior that we’ve seen develop, and it’s good to have him in the first grade.”
Leeton’s attention now turns to next Saturday’s elimination final against the Black and Whites, who qualified for the playoffs thanks to a 50-24 victory over Darlington Point-Coleambally at Solar Mad Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
After the Greenies took the points 24-4 in their first meeting this year, the Griffith club returned serve at Leeton in round 16, claiming a 26-20 win that proved crucial to earning a finals berth.
With the memories of that match still fresh in their minds, Dickinson said the Greenies’ focus is on completing more sets and playing patient football this time around against a Black and Whites team with plenty of strike.
“Last time here, I think we dropped the ball the first 10 sets, so that was never going to set us up for anything spectacular,” he said.
“Obviously finals footy, you’ve got to be a bit more composed and show a bit more patience at the attacking end, so I think today was a good chance to set up for that, the game opened up a bit, but we were able to practice a few things, so I was happy with that.
“[We’re] just taking in a few things from [Sunday] and just trying to do the stuff we’ve been working on all year, and hopefully that gets us over the line.
“They’ve got a handy side and they played well last time, so we’ll know where we can stop them, we’ve just got to go out there and do it now.”
The weekend’s other first grade fixtures saw Yanco-Wamoon down Hay 46-18 to seal second position and a home final against Tullibigeal-Lakes United next Sunday, while Griffith Waratahs defeated Yenda by forfeit.
The final ladder: Griffith Waratahs (32 points), Yanco-Wamoon (29), Tullibigeal-Lakes United (28), Leeton (25), Griffith Black & Whites (18, +6 differential), West Wyalong (18, -124), Darlington Point Coleambally (12), Hay (10), Yenda (8).
LEETON 62 (Kyson Freer 6, Elwyn Ravu 2, Beniel Dakunibubului, Billy Dickinson, Jeremy Tambai; Ravu 8, Hewett goals) DEFEATED WEST WYALONG 0 at Leeton No.1 Oval, Sunday August 23.
