In first grade, the Tigers managed to complete a massive turnaround after their loss to Gwydir, taking out the game 26-6. 

The Tigers dominated possession and the scoreboard in the first half, with tries to Nick Dawson, Luke Deaves and Jayden French helping them to an 18-0 lead at the break. 

It was a very physical encounter, with both sides hitting hard in defence and a bit of friendly niggle to go with it. 

The loss of Kialu Brown to injury didn’t help the Hawks cause in their search for their first points after the break and the Tigers extended their lead to 22 with a try to Ryan Schuman. 

The Hawks eventually broke their duck with a try to Leroy Davis late in the second half, but it was too little too late, with the Tigers later wrapping up the result with a try to Jayden Connors. 

When asked if we happy with his side’s performance, Tigers coach John Dawson laughed and said “Is a coach ever happy?”

“Everyone played well,” he said. 

“I was pretty pleased with all the boys, but we’ve still got some stuff to work on.

“There’s lots of room for improvement.”

The Tigers made a number of positional changes, shifting Guy Mepham to fullback, Nick Dawson to the centres and Luke Deaves to five-eighth. 

Dawson said he thought the changes were critical for them to get the result. 

“We made a few changes and they worked well, it just takes a bit of time to gel,” he said. 

“A couple of guys had been playing out of position and they weren’t too happy about it. 

“It improved our defensive line and our attack with some energy.”

Dawson said if there was one positive to getting thrashed by Gwydir, it was that it prompted them to make the changes. 

“That might not have happened otherwise.

“There’s one plus of getting bashed up last week,” he laughed. 

Hawks vice-president Gary Lavender said he thought his side did the best they could, considering the circumstances. 

“We had no possession whatsoever, it probably should have been 50-6,” he said. 

“We probably just lacked a bit of go-forward, but we never gave in.

“They (the Tigers) didn’t back off, they kept coming at us for the full 80 minutes. 

“I don’t know what we take out of it. We’re big-hearted I suppose. 

“It’ll turn around for us, we just need a bit more strike power.” 

All teams have a bye this week due to the representative selection trials in Tamworth and both clubs feel a week off will benefit them. 

“What I’m hoping with the bye is that we can catch up with some fitness,” Dawson said. 

“It (the bye) will probably do us a favour. 

“We’re not quite gelling yet, but if we can keep working on those areas, we’ll play with a bit of smartness and be much tougher in future games.” 

Lavender said a week off will allow them the opportunity to rest a few players as they look to turn their season around. 

“We play Armidale at home the following Sunday and we’re looking for that to be the turning point,” he said. 

In reserve grade, the Hawks showed a lot of signs of improvement after their big loss to Moree.

In a competitive match, both sides were evenly poised at half time, with the score at 12-all.

But it was the Tigers who came out stronger in the second half and eventually took out the game 28-12. 

Earlier on, the Tingha Cubs were too strong for the Hawkettes in the league tag, winning 30-18, while the Tigers juniors made it four from four for the club with a 40-14 victory.