THE Hunter Valley Group 21 Rugby League season is only two rounds old, but already it looks like a three-team competition.
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Defending premiers Aberdeen Tigers, fellow grand finalists Muswellbrook Rams and the Scone Thoroughbreds are still undefeated after the weekend’s matches – and now have a four-point buffer over the Singleton Greyhounds, Denman Devils and Greta Branxton Colts.
However, the door could be left ajar somewhat on Saturday when the Tigers face the Rams in a replay of the 2017 decider, which will also double as the Scanlon Shield final, at Olympic Park.
Aberdeen, without its under-23 representative players Cameron French, Hamish Wolfgang, Samuel Fitzsimmons and Harry Douglass, crushed Greta Branxton – missing Dylan Holz – 50-6 in an ominous sign to the other sides.
Muswellbrook also produced an impressive effort, accounting for Singleton 42-16, while Scone touched up Denman 34-12.
For the second consecutive weekend, the Thoroughbreds failed to drop a game, with the reserves prevailing 68-6, under-18s winning 20-16 and women’s league tag triumphing 34-0.
Also in “reggies”, Merriwa drew 12-all with the Greyhounds, the Tigers upstaged the Colts 26-6 and the Rams pipped Murrurundi 22-20.
In under-18s, Greta Branxton saw off a gallant Aberdeen 28-6 and Singleton defeated Muswellbrook 22-18.
The Ramettes kept a clean sheet against the Mavettes 22-0, the Colts hammered the Tigers 32-4 and the Magpies upset the Greyhounds 22-0 in women’s league tag.
In other third round fixtures, Scone hosts Greta Branxton on Sunday, while Singleton heads to Denman.
Round two results:
First grade –
Aberdeen defeated Greta Branxton 50-6
Scone defeated Denman 34-12
Muswellbrook defeated Singleton 42-16
Reserve grade –
Merriwa drew with Singleton 12-all
Aberdeen defeated Greta Branxton 26-6
Scone defeated Denman 68-6
Muswellbrook defeated Murrurundi 22-20
Under-18s –
Greta Branxton defeated Aberdeen 28-6
Scone defeated Denman 20-16
Singleton defeated Muswellbrook 22-18
Women’s league tag –
Merriwa defeated Singleton 22-0
Greta Branxton defeated Aberdeen 32-4
Scone defeated Denman 34-0
Muswellbrook defeated Murrurundi 22-0
Round three draw:
Saturday, April 28
At Olympic Park
1pm: women’s league tag, Muswellbrook v Aberdeen
2pm: under-18s, Muswellbrook v Aberdeen
3.10pm: reserve grade, Muswellbrook v Aberdeen
4.40pm: first grade, Muswellbrook v Aberdeen
At Murrurundi
2pm: women’s league tag, Murrurundi v Merriwa
3pm: reserve grade, Murrurundi v Merriwa
Sunday, April 29
At Scone Park
10.25am: women’s league tag, Scone v Greta Branxton
11.20am: under-18s, Scone v Greta Branxton
12.30pm: reserve grade, Scone v Greta Branxton
2pm: first grade, Scone v Greta Branxton
At Denman
10.25: women’s league tag, Denman v Singleton
11.20am: under-18s, Denman v Singleton
12.30pm: reserve grade, Denman v Singleton
2pm: first grade, Denman v Singleton