REVELLING in the occasion was not an option for Junee captain-coach Matt Hands after the Diesels surged to the outright lead in the Group Nine premiership on Sunday.
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Continuing a booming start to the competition, Junee thrashed Tumut 56-26 at Twickenham, with try-scoring star Tristan Dickson bagging another four in the process.
As Dickson celebrated his best haul for the year, the Diesels were also on a high after shooting to the top of the Group Nine ladder.
Joint leader with Gundagai before the weekend, Junee emerged with sole leadership as the Tigers drew 28-all with Southcity on Sunday.
Amid the jubilation, Hands was keeping a level head as the Diesels as the team is on a collision course with Gundagai.
“They’re (Gundagai) the only team to beat us this year,” Hands said on Sunday.
“Now we play them up there (Gundagai) next Sunday.
“It’s obviously a very big game.”
For Hands, the depth of Junee’s 11 tries t five shellacking of the Blues was reassuring before the joust with the Tigers. Hands said the Diesels had needed a “good hit out” in the build-up to the showdown with Gundagai.
“We haven’t had that much football with the bye and everything,” Hands said.
With Hands in commanding touch, Junee toyed with the Blues, bolting out to an unbeatable lead by half-time.
Significantly, Tumut scored four of their five tries in the second half as Junee went into cruise control.
For Junee, stalwart Mark Halliburton celebrated his 150th first grade game in fitting style, while Pat Guthrie, Brad McCarthy and Peter Little were also excellent.
Yet again, the Blues were outclassed by a team with arguably the hottest backline in Group Nine. Hands expects the Diesels to be at full strength for Sunday’s blockbuster.
“We’ve got a few niggling injuries but they should be right by Wednesday or Thursday,” he said.
Meanwhile, some late brilliance from fullback Jack Lyons ensured Southcity shared the points with Gundagai in the thrilling contest at Harris Park on Sunday.
Lyons scored two tries in the last seven minutes as the Bulls stormed home late to earn the 28-all draw. The 19-year-old was backing up from Riverina’s win over Greater Southern on Saturday, but still had enough energy to ignite the Bulls’ hopes late.
Full time:
JUNEE 56 (T Dickson 4, D Foley2, P Little 2, W Merritt, M Halliburton, S Wilson tries; M Hands 4, L Sweeney 2 goals) d TUMUT 26 (M Ivill, J McNamara, Z Masters, M Power, J Toppin tries; A Taumata 3 goals) at Twickenham. Scrums: 6-9. Penalties: 2-4. Gate: $1490
