Deadwood downs Central West in see-sawing match

By MATT FINDLAY

DESPITE producing a hugely improved performance in Saturday's HeartKids Cup at Endeavour Oval, the Central West Invitational side lost out to Deadwood Rugby Club for a second consecutive year.

In a fiercely-contested clash where the lead changed several times, Deadwood eventually ran out 26-15 winners - a stark contrast to the 60-19 result in 2013.

Played across four 20-minute quarters due to the oppressive heat, the two sides brutalised each other in a bid to gain ascendancy, which never really came for either team.

With the Central West side, boasting a number of the 2014 Blowes Cup winning Dubbo Kangaroos side, leading late in the third quarter there was a glimmer of hope the invitational team could hold on for a win.

However a couple of fourth-quarter tries to the visitors put the result to bed, and boosted Deadwood's formidable record to 73 wins and just 13 losses.

"It was a pretty hotly contested game," Central West Invitational side coach Steve Hamson said.

"We led at one stage in the third quarter, but they just got the wood on us a bit toward the end. It was a really high standard game of rugby.

"We matched the Deadwood boys for the most part, the breakdown was pretty fierce. They did pinch a bit of our lineout ball, and push our scrum around but all the guys who put their hand up did a great job."

Hamson singled out the side's two rugby league converts, Orange Hawks' stars Jared Brodrick and Joe Lasagavibau, as standouts, before putting his hand up to coach the side again next year.

"Jared Brodrick and Joe (Lasagavibau) were incredible, they transferred over really well," Hamson said.

"Jared played brilliant footy in the centres and Joe caused trouble constantly, he just cut the line up.

"Otherwise, Lachie Harris impressed, as did Max Ma'Anelson and Pete Nau. It was a really good opportunity for some of these blokes.

"Mick and I would both love to do it again. It will be an annual thing, and it's for a wonderful cause I think we just need to have a think about when the best time to host it is, to raise as much for HeartKids as we can."

Deadwood founder, and president Scott Podmore echoed Hamson's assessment, and lauded the event's organiser Mardi Aplin. He went on to say one of the highlights of the day was the junior clinic, although attendance left a bit to be desired, where Deadwood players ran local juniors through drills for almost three hours.

"It was a good game of footy, and always played in a good, hard spirit," he said.

"Granted, we didn't have as a strong a team this year but the local guys stuck it to us big time. We all can't wait to come back next year, Mardi really put on a show for us she did a wonderful job.

"We'll look to turn it into much more of a weekend, with wives, partners and the whole gang coming next year."

Aplin hadn't confirmed a definite figure on the amount raised for HeartKids Foundation - supporting children and their families impacted by heart disease - but said the day was an unequivocal success.

"It was great, the clinic was good and it was a really good game of rugby," she said.

"I can't thank the Deadwood guys, and the guys from the area who travelled over, enough. I haven't even got a ballpark figure, but I think we've raised a significant amount."