Deacon Sankey's explosive speed helped the Gunnedah Bulldog snaffle a Bottlemart Man Of The Match Award at Scully Park on Saturday evening.
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The talented teenager scored three tries on the night, a five-point super try in the first game of the night - a 16-11 loss to unbeaten Careys Freight Lines - and a double in his Marius Street Family Dental's 20-11 win over JT Fossey.
The fine effort earned Sankey his first man of the match of the inaugural Wests Entertainment Group 9's and a $100 voucher.
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"I forgot how unfit I was," he admitted afterwards.
There is also a promise of more to come from the explosive young back for his Marius Street Family Dental side in the October 31 finals, although maybe not in the Group 4 competition, in the immediate future anyway.
"I'll be moving back up the coast," the 18-year old said.
"I played up in Brisbane last season (pre-season) but didn't get graded so I came back home."
He had "played a few first grade games last season" and that had whet his appetite and he's hoping to move back north for next season and have another crack.
"I love it up there," Sankey added.
He has also enjoyed the WEG 9's despite his admitted lack of fitness.
"It's nice and quick, you have plenty of room to move," he said.
Move is what he does best.
Just ask JT Fossey skipper Mitch Doring, no slouch himself, who showed Sankey plenty of room on the outside down the western touchline on Saturday night and the teenager promptly scorched past for a scintillating try.
How Mick Schmiedel would be wishing the youngster was staying to play with the Bulldogs if the Group 4 season returns to normality for the 2021 season.
Despite his defensive faux pas, Doring did pick up the one point in the man of the match and with his three points from the previous game leads the table on 10 points. Carey's Freight Lines' skipper Brenton Cochrane is close on his heels on nine after picking up the three points in the opening game of the night.
BOTTLEMART MAN OF THE MATCH TABLE
After third round
10: Mitch Doring (JT Fossey).
9: Brenton Cochrane (Carey's Freight Lines).
7: Sam Taylor (CFL).
5: Brayden Reid (CFL).
3: Ben Williams, Clay Frendin (CFL), Cody Tickle, Dan Boland (Shay Brennan Constructions), Mitch Dening, Deacon Sankey (Marius Street Family Dental).
2: Phil Beaton (CFL), Ryan Ingram, Scott Blanch, Mitch Sheridan, Trent Taylor, Shuaib Rhodes-Swain (MSFD), Harlee Millgate, Sam Sadler (JTF), Matt Wilson (MSFD).
1: Liam Ball, Kobe Bone (JTF), Daniel Jobson, Bryce Daniels (SBC).
