Tackling a combined force did nothing to stop Southern Inland from taking out the Brumbies Provincial Tournament.
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In a bid to make a more competition, Monaro and South Coast combined forces this year for a shortened event.
However they were still soundly beaten 41-13 by the Riverina team in Canberra on Saturday.
Getting off to a fast start, SIRU jumped out to an early lead and held a 29-3 advantage at the break.
However their rivals were much more competitive in the second half, while a number of chances went begging for the winners.
Despite another big scoreline, Southern Inland rugby manager Mick McTaggart was impressed with the improved quality of their opposition.
“To their credit Monaro/South Coast tackled a lot better than I thought they would,” McTaggart said.
“You could tell they were pretty committed.”
Nathan Batina was one of the stars for Southern Inland.
Coming in under an injury cloud, the Leeton fullback put on a dazzling display from the back.
Albury’s James Devlin was named the team’s best.
Slotting in a five-eighth, Devlin controlled the attack and let the back line shine.
The only injury concern was Wagga City halfback Stu Dyer.
Dyer only played around 25 minutes before coming off with a neck injury.
He scored two tries in that time while Leeton winger Joe Ratu scored three.
McTaggart thought it was more of a precautionary measure with Dyer among the 16 SIRU players selected in the Brumbies Provincial Team.
Courtesy of the big win, SIRU dominates the team selected to take on NSW Country at Vikings Park in Canberra on Saturday.
Only seven from the combined Monaro/South Coast team were selected, with the majority of those picked on the bench.
The Brumbies Provincial team is yet to taste success against the Cockatoos.
McTaggart is looking to the forward pack to rise to the challenge with the back line already well matched.
FULL-TIME
SOUTHERN INLAND 41 (Joe Ratu 3, Stu Dyer 2, Josef Glamuzina, Siti Watkins tries; Std Dyer, James Devlin, Tom Hallam cons) d MONARO/SOUTH COAST 13
SIRU’S BRUMBIES PROVINICAL TEAM MEMBERS: Tom Macleay, Cam Duffy (Ag College), Austin Wallace, Tom Hallam (Waratahs), James Devlin (Albury), Nathan Seymour, Stu Dyer (Wagga City), Chris Latu (Griffith), Sai Ratudradra, Joe Kafoa-Pene, Simon Vunilagi, Noa Rabici, Siti Watkins, Joe Ratu, Nathan Batina (Leeton), Josef Glamuzina (Tumut)