JAMBEROO Superoos have consolidated their spot in the VB South Coast Rugby League’s top three after scoring a commanding 42-6 win over Milton-Ulladulla Bulldogs at Mollymook Oval on Saturday.
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In a match that doubled as the Bulldogs cancer fundraiser and a reunion for their 1987 premiership-winning first grade side, the home side, which has been racked by injuries after a promising start to the season, unfortunately failed to match the physicality of the Jamberoo defence and their speed out wide.
The visitors had a great start to the game when prop Matt Webster popped a great pass to lock Luke Asquith who stormed over.
Dean Watling converted for a 6-nil lead.
The home side then produced their best 20 minutes of the game, controlling the ball and tackling strongly until a piece of magic by Jamberoo speedster Andrew Clarke broke the game open.
Firstly he came infield looking for space and found just that as he accelerated through a gap and raced away to score under the posts.
Watling converted but there was more to follow, as just five minutes later, he had his double after fullback Trent Ryan and centre Watling gave Clarke room to score in the corner.
At 16-nil, it was looking ominous for the Bulldogs and that’s the way it turned out, with Ryan getting a brilliant pass for half Jono Dallas to score and the Superoos went back-to-back when replacement back-rower James Gilmore scored out wide.
With Watling adding both conversions, Jamberoo seemed to be cruising at 28-nil at the break.
But injuries sent a bit of a scare through the Superoo camp when Ryan failed to return after half-time and both Aaron and Corey Grigg were injured in the opening minutes of the second stanza, with their bench resembling a hospital casualty ward.
After holding off some concerted Bulldog attack, the Superoos scored the try of the match when five-eighth Mark Asquith made a strong break up the middle and found his twin brother James in support and he made the most of Watling’s speed as the centre-cum-fullback raced over in the corner.
Both side seemed to go into cruise more, with Jamberoo adding a second try to a limping Dallas before Clarke finished off his hat-trick.
However the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for Dogs’ fullback Lepani Waqa who finally opened the home side’s scoring with a try out wide with minutes remaining and Paul Ardler landed a sideline conversion for a final scoreline of 42-6.
In a solid team performance, apart from Andrew Clarke and Jono Dallas, youngsters Jack Loveday and Dean Watling showed maturity far beyond their years, while Brendan Smith and Matt Webster played big minutes and were prominent.
Steine Lofts, Alistair Flanders, Blake Mackey, Callum Franchi and Wade Walker tried hard to lift the Bulldogs.