Up high: Maroondah's Joe Chim Sao-Mafiti is held high during a line-out against Eltham on Saturday. Picture: Wayne Hawkins
MAROONDAH Rugby Club has taken a step towards gaining redemption, with an easy victory over Eltham in their Victorian Rugby Union Division 2B clash at Maroondah on Saturday.
Maroondah rammed on three tries while its defence held fast all afternoon, eventually giving up a try in the dying minutes of the match to win 20-5.
The victory was set in motion when Hamish Moffat scored early, then Dan Musto scored again before half-time to give Maroondah momentum before the long break.
Moffat then scored a penalty just after half-time to snuff out any chance of an Eltham comeback. Andrew 'Toothless' Taylor scored Maroondah's third try, ensuring a winning start to its new campaign despite being relegated from Division 2A.
"It's really good to get off to a good start," Maroondah co-coach Andrew Cousins said. "We were hoping to do well but it was sort of the unknown."
Cousins said the club had attracted a number of new players over the off-season, including a couple that crossed over from different codes. "We've got very good numbers this year and we have got about five or six new players."
Maroondah clashes with Ballarat, at Ballarat, this Saturday.