Dylan Downey overcame injury to play a leading role in Binalong’s win.
The Binalong boys hit the paddock on Saturday and came up against a UC side riding high on their recent win over the Harden Hawks. UC went in for a try to lead 4-0 after seven minutes. But the Waldren Construction Brahmans turned up the heat and forced a line drop-out in the 10th minute. Almost a quarter went by and this writer felt Binalong were putting more pressure on UC than the reverse, but still no points to show for it? Then a converted try to the hosts for a 10-0 lead.
Bewildered, we watched mistakes and not a lot of progress, then a masterstroke, the injured Dylan Downey was sent out, not expected to play from the previous week, Downey had an immediate impact on the game and scored with 7 minutes left in the half. Mick Spencer and James McDougall were great, although McDougall went to the bin in the second half for a professional foul.
With only minutes left in the stanza Pete Adam started a move close to the host’s line and crossed the chalk for Dylan Arabin, yes the villain, to convert for the lead 12-10, but the referee found a penalty and the Grissleys elected for the 2 points and the players went to the sheds locked-up at 12-12.
Probably emboldened by their shock win over Harden last week, the UC players thought they would handle Binalong with ease, they were in for a shock themselves! After just five minutes, the remainder of the half was one of the most inspiring this writer has seen since the days of Rawlinson and Worthy, all those years ago. Tim Crellin and James McDougall lead the way, Mickey Spencer was untiring all day and James Blair threatened, but UC had Blair marked tightly, just as well. Then in the 11th minute Crellin struck from dummy half, Arabin converted for the 18-12 lead and that folks, was the end of the Grissleys.
The Grissleys had no option but to obstruct the play the ball and lying on tackled players, this they did and it cost them with a penalty count of 13:7 against them.
The UC centre was then sent for ten, followed by another eight minutes later
The Brahmans then embarked upon a program of dismantling UC, which they did with aplomb putting in Adrian Priem for a try and Jake Arabin shortly after.
With the lead of 28-12, Binalong put on an impressive attack display with Josh Barker crossing for his try, then closing on full-time Nate Lalliard put through the perfect grubber for Dylan Arabin to score, convert and be credited with six from seven conversions for the day.
Lachlan Patterson was fabulous as always, Pete Adam makes good structure and Benny Boyton adds thrust to the Brahmans game. No idea what is happening at McLean Oval but that’s 2 losses in a row, how Binalong would like a crack at them now?
Binalong 40 def UC 12. Tries: D.Downey, P.Adam, T.Crellin, A.Priem, J.Arabin, and J.Barker. Goals: D.Arabin 6.
bos Indicus.
