Southcity rebounded from their loss to Gundagai in the grand final rematch with a comfortable win over Junee on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Bulls looked like to be by far the most dangerous team throughout the game, but they took their time to put the Diesels away at Equex Centre.
Southcity took a 16-0 lead into the break courtesy of tries to Nick Skinner, Pani Manawatu and Usaia O’Sullivan before struggling to start the second stanza.
Junee had a try disallowed before getting on the board following an acrobatic effort from Liam Sweeney off a Cameron Hands kick.
However, it seemed to provide Southcity with a bit of spark they needed.
The captain-coach, Skinner, was the one to do so as he sold three dummies to score from 40 metres out six minutes later.
Three minutes after that Nathan Rose went over for a soft try to turn the tide as the Bulls run away with the game to take a 34-6 win.
While the Bulls have won two of the three games to start season, plus had a bye, Skinner still isn’t thrilled with the way they playing.
Impatience with the ball was on show once more, and it’s something the front rower wants addressed.
“We are just pushing things a little bit and probably getting stressed about things we don’t need to be,” Skinner said.
“We need to settle it down and trust one another.
“At the moment we want it to happen off every play, but we need to get into the arm wrestle I guess.”
However, Skinner thought the team started a lot better this time out.
They were also boosted by the return of Hayden Jeans, who came off the bench, but Tim Hurst and Jordan Shepherd both missed the clash.
While Hurst may be fit to take on Tumbarumba next week, Shepherd will miss at least the next month after breaking his hand in the loss to the Tigers.
However in their absence young forwards Tyson Hodge and Brodie Tracey stepped up as they were given a taste of first grade.
Skinner has been impressed by how the young Bulls have risen to the occasion this season.
Junee’s chances weren't helped when star fullback Daniel Foley limped off after 10 minutes with a thigh injury.
He’s in doubt for the clash with Gundagai next week, while the Diesels were also without Patrick Sweeney and Mitch Sutton to take on the Bulls.
They did welcome back captain-coach Matt Hands.
Hands was pleased with his team’s effort, but thought a lack of fitness let them down.
“The effort is there but boys lacked a bit of polish and they (Southcity) are a very fit side, so it was very fast, and they caught us up the middle a couple of times,” Hands said. "Especially late in the halves, which was disappointing.
“We gave away a lot of late tackle count penalties and you can’t give good sides like that penalties on the fourth or fifth tackle.”