Tara Murray
Brimbank Bucks came out on top in the top of the table clash in Rugby Union Victoria’s first grade.
Facing Wyndham City for the first time in this grade, the two teams were expecting a cracker of a match at Mossfiel Reserve on Saturday.
It was an intense opening 15 minutes, with both teams smashing up against each other to try and find any holes in the defensive lines.
The Rhinos scored first, before big winger Afa Fa’atau scored a brilliant solo try minutes later to level the scores.
The Rhinos soon regained the lead, 14-7, as both teams put in a good contest.
The Bucks went for reinforcements off their bench, who made an instant impact. Buxx Tusivili showed his skills with a pick and go from a ruck 15 metres out to score a try under the post, to level the scores before half time.
After the break, the Bucks’ flankers started to take control, while midfielders Tagaloa Fonoti and Tonu Filipo were were stopping the Rhinos centres from getting through.
The Bucks bench and impact players started coming in the game in the last 25 minutes, with the side lifting and upping gears.
The new front row combination of Sio Mika, Tusivili, Sam Iuta put in great solid work up front, proving fitter and more mobile towards the later stages of the game.
The Bucks poured on the tries late in the match, winning 36-14.
The win has the Bucks sitting on top of the ladder, sitting five points clear of Wyndham City.
