Ag College made a statement with another impressive win to start the Southern Inland season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Aggies proved far too good for Leeton in a rematch of the preliminary final at Leeton No.1 Oval on Saturday.
Last year's clash for a place in the grand final was an intense battle of attrition but this time around the Wagga side cruised to a commanding 53-23 victory.
Ag College took advantage of some horrible discipline from the Phantoms in the first half to jump out to a strong lead.
They struck three times when Illiesa Silavia was yellow carded in the middle of the second half to set up the winning advantage.
Coach Will Mitchell was pleased with the effort, but it still looking for more from the young side.
"I'm very happy," Mitchell said. "This is the first win for any first grader in an Ag College jumper over here.
"It's been a long time between drinks to get a win in Leeton so we are stoked."
Trailing 29-8 at half-time Leeton never got back into the contest but started to show their flair with the ball in the second half despite losing Mesulame Navakayala to a red card early in the second half.
Navakayala was posed to be cautioned for a high shot on Simon Miller but then came up swinging, was given his marching orders by Brendan Reynolds and will now face the judicial process.
Ag College took advantage as Matt Harris, Joe Hamblin and Lochie Ramm before the Phantoms scored the last three tries of the game.
Falling away late is one thing Mitchell is looking to improve before the big clash with Waratahs after the Easter break.
"When we weren't under fatigue we played to our structure really well and the points came but once we got a bit tired, our defence structures lapsed and we weren't communicating well enough," he said.
"That is when they started to get a few points.
"It wasn't a lack of ticker but a lack of communication and being in the right spots so there is plenty to work on there."
READ MORE
Sam Chalmers was one of Aggies best at hooker and also crossed twice in the win.
Will Whiteley and Andrew Knox also scored twice while Pat Logan didn't look out of place coming in at five-eighth.
While you're with us, did you know that The Daily Advertiser is now offering sport and a specialised footy newsletter as part of its growing email service? Sign up here.