RUGBY LEAGUE
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Greta Branxton Colts coach Ron Griffiths has admitted his side was simply outplayed by Denman in Sunday’s Group 21 grand final.
The minor premiers were defeated 20-4 by the Devils in Denman and Griffiths said they simply weren’t able to stop them on the day.
“They were just too good,” Griffiths said. “They won the game up the middle of the park and we had a plan to stop them, but didn’t enact it.”
A head clash between Colts props Ben Murray and Daniel Newton suffered shortly after coming onto the field as replacements in the second stanza didn’t help the cause of the visitors and a 10-4 half-time deficit quickly turned into a 16-point margin by the final whistle.
“It was like four replacements in one and we couldn’t fill the void in the middle,” Griffiths said. “We had our chances but in the end they were just better.”
Denman winger Broque Smith scored tries on either side of the main break while Devils five-eighth Dean Amos opened the scoring.
Colts winger Nic Leonard made it 6-4 late in the opening 40 minutes but that was the sole joy for Greta Branxton.
Griffiths, who will stay on as coach next year, nominated Roy Bell, Daniel Bates, Brady Hammond and Joey Griffiths as the Colts’ best.
The reserve grade premiership was won by the Colts after a 20-16 win by the minor premiers against Singleton while Muswellbrook took out the under 18s title with a 42-18 triumph against Scone.
“You need a good reserve grade side to make a good first grade side,” Griffiths said. “To win the minor and major premiership in the same season will hold the club in good stead for years to come.”
The Colts won their first Group 21 club championship in 2013.