The Yabbies’ eight tries to one victory belied the heavy conditions at Cranfield Oval and keeps the club in touch with the top tier of the Southern Inland Rugby Union which will split after the final regular season round on June 28. 

A win against the Blacks will see the Young side leapfrog Tumut in the table should the Bulls fail to cause an upset over Ag College at Beres Ellwood Oval in Wagga tomorrow. 

The trip to Griffith will be the Yabbies last this season with a bye the following week before the competition splits in to the Walsh & Blair Cup (Premier Division) and the Romano’s Cup. 

The Yabbies have gradually built a formidable record at home this season, with Saturday’s spectacle of fluid running rugby underlining the improvement the club has made since finishing last in 2013. 

A hat-trick to winger Inoke Rasabale and a brace to mercurial half-back Rhun Jones broke the back of the Phantoms, while captain Aaron Seaman, Sam Hunter and Jack Redmond also crossed for five-pointers. 

Redmond’s try was one for the ages with flanker Sam Bunny launching a counter-attack from broken play and finding half-back Jones in support. Redmond loomed in support of Jones to collect the final pass to score. 

“That was the best try we have scored all season,” first grade co-coach James Shannon said. 

“In terms of attacking options, support and speed it showed all our strengths we’ve been working on this season.” 

With a strong Griffith Blacks line up not likely to provide an easy road to the Premier Division for the Yabbies, Shannon outlined that intensity in defence would be key to tomorrow’s game. 

Shannon and fellow co-coach Aaron Seaman will be sweating on the availability of backs Mick Stallard and Al McNab who clashed heads heavily in the first half last weekend with both requiring medical attention. 

Points: 

3 points – Rhun Jones 

2 points – Aaron Seaman 

1 point – Inoke Rasabale 

Players Player – Rhun Jones 

Young 52 (Inoke Rasabale 3 tries, Rhun Jones 2 tries, Aaron Seaman, Sam Hunter, Jack Redmond tries; Mick Stallard 4 cons, Inoke Rasabale 2 cons) 

Leeton 8 (1 try, 1 pen).

Reserve Grade take 

50-point victory

Yabbies Second Grade again showed their attacking intent with a 50-point whitewash of Leeton last Saturday. 

The Yabbies tallied eight tries against the Phantoms with big Jesh Smith and Chris Smith crashing over twice each while Harrison Back, Wally Everdell, Jay Faaea and former Melbourne Rebels forward Tim Davidson also getting on the scoresheet. 

The home side’s backline shrugged off the wet conditions to go on the attack from the first whistle, a sight that pleased captain-coach Mick Hudson. 

“It was a good win on a heavy track and we didn’t take our foot off the opposition’s throat for a minute,” he said. 

Hudson said he was pleased to see the Yabbies stick to their structures despite playing a weaker team, a trait that will serve them well in the semis. 

Second-rower Ben Simmons was outstanding in the tight and was duly awarded the man of the match and player’s player honours. 

Points: 

3 points – Ben Simmons 

2 points – Jeshua Smith 

1 point – David Woodward 

Players Player – Ben Simmons 

Young 52 (Jeshua Smith 2 tries, Chris Smith 2 tries, Tim Davidson, Jay Faaea, Wally Everdell tries; Peter Maher 5 cons) 

Leeton 0 

Junee takes the spoils in close match

Yabbies Third Grade suffered a rare 21-14 loss at home against a fill-in Junee Rams side last Saturday at Cranfield Oval. 

With Leeton unable to field Third Grade, Junee filled the breach to give the Yabbies a taste of semi-final football before it arrives. 

Junee opened the scoring with a converted try but the Yabbies clawed back the deficit through a Liam Skinner try and Jayson Smith conversion to go in to the break 7-all. 

Jay Faaea extended the lead early in the second half to 14-7 but Junee answered with two converted tries to take the spoils. 

Points: 

3 points – Jayson Smith 

2 points – Jay Faaea 

1 point – Ben Reid 

Players Player – Matt Reid