Miners’ captain Nick Dehnert, shoulder injury, and veteran prop Travis Henderson, who sustained a leg injury in the warm-up, were sidelined for the match at Shadforth Park in North Bendigo.

Bendigo struggled for possession and had to defend for long periods because of an unbalanced penalty count.

The team also struggled at the line-out.

When Bendigo had the ball it showed attacking brilliance, with last year’s best player Johneen Fagavao breaking the Drover’s line.

This resulted in a pair of tries to the centre which were converted by Josh Manderson to give Bendigo a 14-0 lead at the main break.

Fagavao completed his hat-trick of tries in the second half with a blistering 40m run.

Deniliquin then gained a slight possession ascendency again through further penalties that were frustrating the Bendigo players.

The Fighting Miners attacked again with a strong run by five-eighth Jon Solomon who linked his brother Jeremy in the final metres to secure the four try bonus point.

Bendigo held a 26-0 lead at that time.

A further series of penalties allowed Deniliquin score two tries to close the gap.

Flanker Daniel Fallaver was then yellow-carded for aggressive clearing out at a ruck.

Bendigo still managed to score another try to hooker Elsie Tuitupou out wide, after good lead up work by the Bendigo forward pack.

The Drovers scored a third try right on the final whistle when the man advantage Deniliquin had was used to great effect.

Final score: Bendigo 31 d Deniliquin 15.

Better players for Bendigo were Alan Saville, Jesse Tuitupou, Johneen Fagavao and Elsie Tuitupou.

The Miners travel to Wodonga this Saturday to take on the Border Army.

Bendigo’s team for last Saturday’s win against the Deniliquin Drovers:

1 N. Poingdestre, 2 E. Tuitupou, 3 J. Tuitupou, 4 L. Tuitupou, 5 B. Westley, 6 A. Saville, 7 D. Fallaver, 8 S. McGrail, 9 S. MacDonald, 10 Jon Solomon, 11 M. Spedding, 12 J. Fagavao, 13 Phil Thomas, 14 S. Fagavao, 15 J. Manderson, 17 R Paratini, 18 L. Eriksen, 19 A. Turpin, 21 Jeremy Solomon, 22 M Luatutu.

Scorers: Johneen Fagavao three tries, Jeremy Solomon, Elsie Tuitupou one try, Josh Manderson three goals.