RUGBY LEAGUE
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The Greta Branxton Colts were given a timely confidence boost leading into Group 21 grand final day with the club cleaning up at last night’s awards ceremony.
Colts five-eighth Joby Patten was named Group 21 player of the year, Daniel Bates made the team of the year at hooker while Greta Branxton mentor Ron Griffiths picked up coach of the year honours in his first year at the club.
Patten was also announced as the most prolific scorer in first grade for 2013 with 184 points (seven tries, 78 goals) from 15 matches.
On top of this the Colts also collected the silverware for minor premierships in first (Ken Cosgrove Trophy) and reserve (Jack Frame Shield) grades along with the Foran Trophy for their maiden club championship.
Earlier in the year Greta Branxton won the first grade pre-season competition and claimed the Scanlon Shield.
Trophies aside the Colts will turn their attention to the field this Sunday when they line up against the Denman Devils in the first grade decider while in reserves the boys in blue and white will tackle arch-rivals Singleton.
The last time the Colts featured in both grand finals was 2009 and they walked away with their maiden Group 21 premierships.
Four years down the track the club will hope to replicate this situation and score dual major crowns.
Griffiths, who has already agreed to terms for next season, said it would be a matter of doing the simple things well on Sunday.
“It is tried and tested but completing our sets, good kick chase and maintaining our fair share of possession will go a long way towards winning it,” he said.
“But it will be a great day for the club and hopefully we can walk away from Denman on Sunday with two grand finals.”
In first grade the Colts edged past Scone 24-22 in Sunday’s preliminary final after being downed 31-12 by Denman in the major semi-final a fortnight ago.
Reserve grade had the week off after the Colts accounted for Singleton 36-24 in the opening play-off at Greta Central Oval on August 18.
Muswellbrook and Scone will go head-to-head in the under-18 showdown at Denman on Sunday.
Action starts at 10.30am with reserves to follow at 12.15pm and firsts at 2pm.