The Gunnedah Red Devils pulled off another thumping win in Central North Rugby over the weekend, claiming a 52-point win over Barraba.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Devils got off to a flying start from the outset, touching down in the first five minutes, and claiming another two tries inside the first 15.
They were dominant everywhere for most of the first half, although some “ordinary” play before the buzzer saw the Rams get back into the match with a 100-metre running try.
The Devils’ strong backs and scrum saw them push ahead at the beginning of the second half, scoring a run of tries in the first 25 minutes.
Gunnedah co-coach Tim Walsh said Barraba seemed to run out of puff and Gunnedah capitalised.
The backs were on fire throughout the match, inlcuding fullback James Perrett.
“That’s where we beat them, in the backs,” Walsh said.
“They just ran around them. James scored and set up three or four tries.”
Breakaway Jeremy Brown and prop Cameron Kesby were also standouts, with Walsh heaping praise on the scrum as well.
“The scrum was fantastic. It’s the best we’ve played so far this year probably.”
Walsh said the team, which had just come off another 50-plus point win in as many weeks, is beginning to gel better and performing with consistency.
“It’s the first time we haven’t got any injuries from one week to the other,” he said.
“We’ve had the same team on the field for two weeks in a row which probably helped a lot.
“Our forwards and scrums have improved out of sight.
“We’re very dominant in the scrums now and the backs have probably worked out they’ve got a fair bit of pace and scored a lot of long-range tries.
“We’re starting to work out how to construct the tries.”
Gunnedah faces Scone at home in its next clash this weekend, and will be looking to continue its winning form to secure a spot in the top four.
“They’re fourth and we’re fifth and we’re separated by one point,” Walsh said.
“It’s always a tight game. I think last year they came fourth and we came fifth and we missed out on the semis and they were the team that got in there.”
The Devils finished Saturday’s match against the Rams with a resounding 78 to 26 point win.
Barraba scored two tries in the closing 10 minutes of the second half when the Devils had emptied out the bench which may have contributed to the points.
Perrett picked up the three points, Jeremy Brown the two and Cameron Kesby the one.
