Two gritty performances realised a narrow win and a narrow loss with the ladies team triumphant and the Cor –Cooling Reggies gallant in defeat.

Recent wet weather produced a cut-up surface for Singleton’s Reserve grade side as they confronted the home side Scone in their contest.

A strong breeze was behind Scone in the first half and on the back of an early penalty the Thoroughbreds posted first points with a try in the corner that was converted. The Dog’s assignment got infinitely harder in the space of four minutes when they lost rampaging prop Luke Holz and live-wire hooker Brodie Rinkin to leg injuries, both took no further part in the game and both look in severe doubt for the remainder of finals series. 

Unperturbed, Singleton muscled up and went on the attack camping themselves deep in Scone territory. In the 15th minute half-back Zac Howlett got an offload away to veteran Brad Schultz who crossed for a try wide out. The difficult conversion was waved away with Singleton trailing 6 – 4. Scone worked their way down field and a great offload and quick hands saw Scone score in the right hand corner. The difficult conversion was landed from the sideline for Scone to establish an important 12 – 4 lead that they carried until the break.

Singleton was by no means out of it and an absorbing second half unfolded. The Dogs started to take control of the game and Zac Howlett used the breeze to great effect by kicking a mighty 40-20 to put Singleton on the attack. With the Scone defence as sixes and seven’s, Jacob Rinkin sent Schultz in for his second try of the day out wide. The conversion across the teeth of the wind by Alan Harris was astray leaving Singleton to now trail by just 12 – 8. The Dogs were dominating Scone everywhere but the score-board. Winger Sam Kirkwood looked destined to score but took out the corner post in the process, just one of a few missed opportunities. Singleton managed to force a number of goal line restarts to really test the mettle of the home side but some 6th tackle options were perhaps ineffective against a rigid defence.

With six minutes remaining, Scone stripped the ball in a one-on-one tackle just 10 metres out from Singleton’s line on a kick return. Moments later Scone winger Justin Hall planted the ball in the corner to put the game virtually out of reach at 16 – 8. 

It was a brave and disciplined performance by the Reggies under the circumstances. They now have to pick up the pieces with a growing injury toll and some unavailability this week that is sure to stretch the side ahead of their must win Preliminary Final against Murrurundi.

The Entire Concrete Women’s league-tag side were part of another titanic struggle typifying the evenness expected at this time of year during finals games. 

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Up against the home side on their turf was never going to be an easy assignment. Again slippery conditions made hard work of searching for gaps in the field, so much so that both teams remained scoreless during the opening 25 minute half of football. With points at a premium Singleton took an early shot at penalty goal however the shot was unsuccessful. Not sure if Singleton took full advantage of the breeze at their backs in the opening half however they were the team looking most likely to score. Some reassurance from the coach and staff at the break set them on course for an important win. Ashleigh Proud broke the dead-lock after 39 minutes with a try out wide to give Singleton a 4 - nil lead. Then with only a handful of minutes remaining the electrifying Lauren Pitt showed too much pace for her opponents to score the teams second and defining try of the afternoon. The 8 - nil score-line was defended until the final whistle much to the delight of the players and fans of this classy outfit. The girls now await their Grand Final opponent of Scone or Muswellbrook.

The result of the First grade game surprised a few with Greta-Branxton proving their Round 15 result over the previously unbeaten Thoroughbreds was no flash in the pan. The Colts scored a dramatic 22 – 18 golden point win after the scores were locked 18 – 18 after regular time. This now means the Grand-final will be staged at Greta Sportsground on Sunday August 31. In the Under 18’s game Denman defeated Muswellbrook 30 – 22. Singleton’s Under 18 team now play Muswellbrook on Sunday for the right to play in the grand-final in what will be a cracking game of football.

Good luck to the Reggies and Juniors this weekend to try and make it three teams into the big one.

Sunday August 24 (Preliminary Finals) – Scone Park

Under 18’s:   Muswellbrook V Singleton @ 10.45 am

League Tag:   Scone V Muswellbrook @ 12.10pm

Reserve Grade:  Singleton V Murrurundi @ 1.20 pm

First Grade: Scone V Denman @ 3.00 pm

Marmalade