The final scoreline of 30-12 told a clear story of a Tumut Blues victory over the Junee Diesels at Laurie Daley Oval. But for the Junee side, the numbers on the scoreboard only told a fraction of the story.
It was a game defined not by skill or strategy alone, but by a brutal test of attrition, where a courageous Junee outfit was ultimately undone by a compounding injury toll and a relentless tide of momentum that shifted on the narrowest of margins. From the outset, the game was a challenging affair for the Diesels.
As their coach, Ben Shea later reflected, “It was probably a bit disappointing for us in regards to the scoreline. That’s probably the most points we’ve taken in a couple of months.”
Tumut, clinical and efficient, capitalised on Junee’s early mistakes. Tries from Zac Treglown and Malik Aitken, both converted by the reliable boot of Gus Williams, put the Blues in a commanding early position. Junee, however, refused to be out of the contest, with Jordan Walker crossing the line to bring some life back to the scoreboard.
The Diesels’ early troubles were compounded by what has become a frustrating trend. “We lost another three blokes on the weekend,” Shea noted, “and that’s three weeks in a row we have had three guys not finish the game, so it’s just dwindling our numbers week after week.”
A hooker and the fullback were casualties in the first ten minutes, forcing an immediate reshuffle. Despite the setback, a glimmer of hope appeared. A spirited fightback saw Junee, through the strength of Fiti Taalolo, score another try. The conversion by Dredin Sorensen and a penalty goal made it a tight affair.
As the half drew to a close, the score sat at 16-12 in favour of the Blues. Shea pointed to a crucial moment that would define the rest of the game. “I think it was 16-12 or 18-12, and we had a bit of momentum and we dropped one over the line, legitimately over the line, which would have got it back to18-all, which would put us in front.” In a cruel twist of fate, the knock-on gave possession back to Tumut, who went the length of the field to score, with Zach Masters extending their lead. Gus Williams added the extras, and a potentially pivotal moment for Junee became a decisive turning point for Tumut.
The second half began with a renewed sense of desperation from the Diesels. They clawed their way back into the contest, trying to overcome their injuries. But as the clock ticked down, the attrition took its toll. Jaydyn, who had just returned from an ankle injury, went down again with a re-aggravation of the same injury. Chase also went off with an injury requiring scans.
“When guys like that kind of go down, you know there’s usually something going on,” said Shea, highlighting the seriousness of the loss. Jordan Anderson, who was in stellar form for Tumut, scored his second try of thed ay to add to the Blues’ lead.
Tumut’s dominance was further aided by a high penalty count against Junee, a factor that ultimately cost the Diesels dearly. In the game’s final stages, Ben Shea and James Strickland were both sent to the sin bin, leaving Junee with just eleven men on the field.
The Blues took advantage, with Gus Williams adding a conversion to Jordan Anderson’s first try, and another conversion after a try from Zach Masters. The final score stood at 30-12.
Despite the loss and the disheartening circumstances, there was a defiant pride in the Diesels’ performance. The coach singled out two players for their exceptional effort.
“Pete Adam was our best,” Shea stated. With the early injury to the hooker, Adam was forced Tommy Carroll stays low to the ground as he readys for contact to play 75 minutes, stepping up to the challenge after just returning from overseas. “He played well as well, so he was good, and then on top of that, Mika was great again in the middle.”
The true measure of the team’s heart came in the last ten minutes. Even with a significant deficit and only eleven men on the field, the Diesels’ defence held firm.
“The effort was still there from the boys,” Shea affirmed, “when we were down to 11 in the last 10 minutes, we didn’t concede a try, so the boys were still putting in the effort.”
For Junee, the game against Tumut wasn’t a loss of heart, but a reminder of the team’s resolve and character in the face of overwhelming odds.
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