The Deniliquin High School’s girls and boys players at the district rugby 7s carnival.
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.
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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.