PAUL Jenkins enjoyed one of his best days inside 50 since becoming a Bathurst Giant on Saturday, booting eight goals as he helped his side to a convincing 22-16-148 to 3-5-23 win over the Cowra Blues.
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Jenkins is no stranger to big hauls - in 2013 when named joint league best and fairest he kicked 68 goals in 13 games for the Bushrangers - and this season he has found the mark plenty of times for the Giants.
Saturday's performance at George Park 2 takes him to 25 goals from six games.
But as was the case as the Giants ran over the top of Cowra, Jenkins' success had plenty to do with the efforts of his team-mates in picking him out on the lead. He was one of a handful who impressed coach Mark Kennedy.
"I was happy with the way we played, our structures were a little bit better after quarter-time when we started to give ourselves some time and space to run into. Once we had the time and space, we took control," he said.
"Reilly Mitchell was good, Bailey Brien had a blinder, James [Kennedy] rucked really well, and Jenko kicked eight goals up front, so that was pretty good.
"The delivery to Jenko was good, as a forward it has got to go through a few hands before it gets to you."
Before the Giants took control, they had to absorb an enthusiastic start from a Blues outfit which was eager to beat Kennedy's men in Bathurst for the first time since 2016.
The tackling pressure was intense, but at quarter-time the Giants held a 3-4-22 to 2-0-12 lead.
While Cowra continued to bring physicality to the contest, the visitors were unable to match the Giants' trademark run.
Winning the clearances allowed the Giants to feed more football inside 50 and they capitalised.
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They booted seven majors in the second term while restricting Cowra to a single behind, pushing their advantage out to 10-6-66 to 2-1-13.
Pleasingly for Kennedy, his players went on with the job after the long break. They gave their percentages a massive boost thanks to the 125-point win and reclaimed third on the ladder.
As well as Jenkins' impact on the scoreboard, tall-timber Emmitt Carr-Smith booted fours while Damian Cuff and Aiden Macauley each kicked two majors.
"The game was played in a fantastic spirit, but still it was what you always get with Cowra, no quarter asked, no quarter given. If a tackle was there to be made, it was surely made," Kennedy said.
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"There was some really intense footy played out there at times, but we just had the more skilful side on the day and dominated in the centre clearances and pushing forward.
"For the first quarter it was pretty close. They are going through a rebuilding phase, but they've still got Chris Day out there, Frank Bright out there and they did not give up all day.
"We talked about how we need to finish off when we get a run on, it could mean percentages at the end of the year which dictate the spots, so we had to focus on getting the job done.
"It's good to get the win, but we need to think of that long game as well, those semi-final games you want to play at the end of the year."
