Deniliquin’s rugby pride has been poking through in recent months, with two local touch teams facing off last week, and a recent high school rugby 7s competition.
In the Echuca Moama Touch Football league, two Deniliquin teams - the Spartans and the Leftovers - faced off in a spirited clash last Monday.
The Spartans came away with a 6-1 win, but the Leftovers held their own for much of the match.
Player-coach Rassie Erasmus shared the story behind the Leftovers’ name, noting with a laugh that they were “the unwanted players from the Spartans team”.
Despite the tongue-in-cheek label, the Leftovers proved they’re anything but second-rate, putting up a strong fight and keeping the game competitive.
A number of the team members found a love for rugby while playing in a school sevens competition, which has seen a bit more love for the game south of the Barassi line.
Deniliquin High’s Year 8 girls rugby 7s team travelled to Canberra last term to compete in the regional finals, following their success at the district level in Griffith.
Battling through injuries and a short bench, the girls played with a lot of heart, finishing third in their pool.
They narrowly missed a semi-final berth after a hard-fought preliminary final against a seasoned South Coast side.
At the district level, Deniliquin’s Year 7/8 boys team recorded one draw and three losses.
The Year 9/10 boys lost all four of their district matches, but still played hard.