INVERELL have inflicted the first ever defeat over Group 19 leaders the Macintyre Warriors to take outright second after the Boomerangs improved their finals hopes with a good win over Ashford in Moree.
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The premiers' first trip to Boggabilla Oval proved to be a good one, with three other sides holding the Warriors to draws this season, although it was the Hawks that drew first blood from the club that is having a fairytale first season.
Coach Garry Lavender said the Hawks' performance was the best he had seen all season, and it needed to be.
"It was a great, nerve-wracking game," Lavender said.
"It was fast and solid with big defensive efforts from both sides."
The Hawks swooped on some early opportunities to take a 24-14 lead into the break, although the Warriors struck back in the second half to be only two points behind all the way to the final moments when prop James Ballinger crossed to secure the win.
