THE Bendigo Fighting Miners racked up their sixth consecutive victory with a 57-5 thumping of the Cobram Dust Devils in the Victoria Rugby Union country division match on Saturday.
Cobram had no answer for the power of the Bendigo forwards and the strong running of centres Michael Crichton and Johneen Fagavao.
Fagavao scored two tries to take his season total to 12, and newcomer Crichton touched down three times.
Bendigo’s first try was scored 49 seconds after kick-off when flanker Allan Saville went over in the corner.
Fagavao scored his first try seven minutes later.
Cobram was forced to play a man short from midway through the first half when one of its players was red carded for a dangerous tackle.
The Miners led 29-0 by half-time.
Against the wind in the second half, Bendigo’s structure improved, providing the platform for four more tries.
Cobram finished the scoring with two minutes left on the clock when it scored a consolation try.
The Miners’ new captain Nick Dehnert dominated the line-outs and scored the first try of the second half.
The Tyson’s Reef Hotel player of the day went to loose forward Shane McGrail.
Others to shine were full-back Steve MacDonald, centres Fagavao and Crichton, flanker Allan Saville, prop Nick Poingdestre and hooker Elson Tuitupou.
Scorers: Crichton 3, J. Fagavao 2, Poingdestre, Dehnert, Fallaver, Saville tries; J. Fagavao 2, Potae, McGrail, MacDonald goals.
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