Banyo Devils notched up the half century against North Lakes Kangaroos in the Intech Men’s Open 3 clash at Bora Ring last Saturday, running out winners 54-10.
The Devils - superbly led by lock Carrington Cobbo-Riley - put the Kangaroos to the sword in a one-sided affair, played in gusty westerly wind conditions.
With only three minutes on the clock, the Devils struck first when burly prop Luke Sanderson smashed his way through the Kangaroos defence to cross right beside the sticks.
North Lakes got on the board themselves four minutes later, when the speedy Jayden De Kock slipped past some lazy Devils defence to touch down in the corner.
It was pretty much all one way traffic from here on in, with the Kangaroos trying everything to stop the more hungrier home side, who were in no mood to stop scoring tries.
The Devils busy five-eighth Curtis Cobbo-Riley did just that in the 22nd minute when he stepped his way through the Kangaroos defensive line to nudge in beside the sticks.
The enigmatic stand off would cross again two minutes later, having taken ownership of a nice short pass from Sanderson to further increase the scoreline.
The Kangaroos were trying hard to keep up with the pace of the game and did show signs of some terrific defence led by forwards Myran Aiono and Zumiah Arutahiki.
However, the Devils had other ideas and were in again through Scott Marsh who strolled in for yet another four pointer much to the delight of the supporters on the deck.
The Devils' Sanderson was leading from the front in the forwards for the home side and went in for his second try of the afternoon right before the break, to see the Devils head into the sheds with a commanding 30-4 lead.
North Lakes coach Nathan Currey read the riot act to his side at half-time and it appeared that the visitors had a new spring in their step.
Clever Kangaroos halfback Declan Ross was looking dangerous with the ball in the second half; however, it did not last long when Marsh went in for his second try of the afternoon after a loose Kangaroos carry in front of the sticks.
Another back-to-back try by Devils' Max Randle stretched the Devils lead to 42-4 and the warning signs were ominous that this game could blow out to a big score.
However, the Kangaroos bravely fought on and were rewarded with a fantastic try in the 50th minute when they crossed under the posts.
It was perhaps fitting that the star of the show, Cobbo-Riley, be rewarded for an all-round outstanding performance, when he snuck through a gap and took four Kangaroos over with him to go in for a superb try.
The powerful lock had the final say in the match, when he beat three defenders to slide in beside the sticks, bringing up the half century and leaving his mark on what was a terrific game of rugby league.
