ALBURY Thunder kept their unbeaten record intact with a thrilling 28-24 victory over Tumut at Greenfield Park on Sunday.
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With the scores locked at 18-all with 12 minutes remaining, the home team crossed late through Rex Sargeant and Shannon Rupapere to hold off the determined Blues.
Full-back Trent Swanson scored in the final minute in a fitting finish for Tumut.
In-form Thunder five-eighth Jay Little said the match underlined the evenness of the competition.
“We had to work really hard,” Little said.
“Full credit to Tumut as it’s young and enthusiastic and I thought they probably out-enthused us early.
“But credit to our guys as well as we stuck to our guns and really ground out the game.
“That can set up a season.
“The comp is very competitive.
“A lot of people are saying the comp is split in two, but I don’t see it that way.
"Anyone can beat anyone on their day.”
Little’s experience has been vital for Albury in its last two wins over Gundagai and Tumut with the journeyman proving a threat to the Blues’ defence.
He also made several telling tackles when Luke Srama’s line-up were on the brink of a surprise win.
“I love it here on the Border,” Little said.
“I spoke to the club a couple of times during my career and it didn’t quite happen but Benny was instrumental in getting me over this season.
“I’m related to Benny and once they lost Breusty (Cameron) they invited me down.
“I’m probably a bit long in the tooth but Benny has a specific job for me and, if I can do that and play off the big forwards, hopefully we can make the semi-finals.
“Today was a big test as Srama (Luke) has got them going well.”
Albury led 12-10 after an error-riddled first-half and looked set to coast home when Jeffery broke the Tumut line to put Rupapare over at the 45-minute-mark.
Minutes later Jeffery scored what seemed to be a try from dummy half only to be ruled having lost the ball.
But Tumut refused to roll over with Jonathan McNamara and Hayden Noldin scoring to lock the scores at 18-all.
With 15 minutes to go big Jack Watson had a try disallowed and seconds later Jon Huggett crashed over the line only to be held up.
The pressure soon told though with Sargeant scoring from dummy half and Rupapere landing the sealer when he stepped the defence to score under the posts.
With one minute left, Tumut put up a bomb which was spilt by Alex Jones.
Swanson swooped on the loose ball to score under the posts.