A very under-strength Christies Accountants under 17 Reds nearly pulled off the upset of the season on Saturday when they took on the Dubbo Blues.
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The Reds led at half-time and for the first 15 minutes of the second half, before the sheer weight of numbers went against them and they eventually went down 19-12.
With only 16 players, and captain Pat Berryman and breakaway Kyle Gibson away on representative duty, the players stepped up to a new level, and played as a team to nearly achieve a great upset.
The game began with the Reds forwards, led by captain James Robertson, Hamish Fairall, Tim Cushan, Will Sinclair and Jock Lawry, punishing the Blues with some sterling defence, while props Sam Hart and Ben Towers and breakaway Tyler Woodrow threw themselves at the Blues with powerful runs.
The game went from end to end and the Reds' structure and discipline was really testing the Blues who gave away a series of penalties, while losing a player to the bin for 10 minutes for undisciplined play.
Right on half-time the Reds secured a lineout close to the Blues line, and a terrific drive from the forwards saw number 8 Tim Cushan crash over to give the Reds a 5-0 lead at the break.
The Reds' backs, led by Jack Jones, Ben Knaggs, Will Smith and Harry Moulder, were tackling and running like men possessed as they held out many raids by the Blues attack.
The second half began like the first with play see-sawing and the Reds had the chance to extend their lead but a Jack Jones penalty from 30m out was just waived away.
The Blues continued to look dangerous out wide, and a quick tap by centre Alex Bourke saw him slide over to level the scores at 5-all with the match 16 minutes into the second half.
This seemed to lift the Blues and with five players on the bench compared to the Reds' one, it was starting to take its toll. Tries to the Blues again in the 23rd and 26th minutes saw them secure a 19-5 lead.
But the gutsy Reds refused to give in and they stole the ball from the kick-off and after a series of penalties right on the Blues line, Tom Roce dived over in the corner right on full-time following some beautiful hands.
Jack Jones nailed a terrific sideline conversion and while the Blues were the winners, once again the fearless Reds snuck away with a bonus point with their late try.
In a game full of heroes for the Reds it was difficult to separate the players in the points, with eight players gaining player's player votes.
Fullback Harry Moulder picked up the player's player and the three points, Tim Cushan, Will Smith and Ben Knaggs picked up 2 points and the other 12 Reds were all awarded a point for their wonderful performances.