Inverell’s RSM Hawks bounced back from a couple of recent defeats when they toppled previously undefeated Moree Boars at Moree on Saturday during the Bernie Briggs Memorial Day.
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Taking the field with probably their strongest team this season, the Hawks and the Boars got into an old fashioned arm wrestle for the entire match with both sides producing arguably the toughest defence seen this season.
It took an individual effort from Moree’s Stan Swan to break the deadlock in the 30th minute, when he sprinted away from dummy half from 20 metres out to open the scoring.
A further try to the Boars a minute from the break by Wayne Swan had Moree in front 12-0 at half time.
The second half turned out to be a repeat of the first, with neither side allowing the opposition to take control. It took a well rehearsed move in the 13th minute between Mick Watton and Alex McCosker, that allowed McCosker to sprint across untouched close to the posts to get the Hawks back into the match.
Three minutes later and Hawks’ new recruit Josh Boyd powered his way through the Boars defence to level the scores at 12-all. Play continued to travel from one end of the field to the other with last ditch defence preventing either side from scoring.
An attacking raid from the Hawks with 13 minutes remaining saw Mick Watton throw a long cut out pass to a flying Billy Stewart to score untouched in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful but the Hawks were in front for the first time in the match 16-12.
A late penalty goal to Mick Watton after Ethan Campbell was pulled down just short of the try line, sealed the win for the Hawks 18-12.
Cameron Patch returning to his favoured position of lock forward was outstanding for Inverell. He was well supported by Alex McCosker, James Ballinger and Thomas Jerrard. Special mention also goes to the Hawks interchange bench of Justin Caine, Ethan Campbell, Robert Dunn and Brendon Blair who all did outstanding jobs when called on to take the field.
In possibly their best performance in a number of seasons, the Hawks Presidents Cup side came from being down 20-0 to narrowly go down to the Boars 36-34.
The Hawks played the majority of the match with only one replacement after star forward Tyrone Green was injured early in the match.
Inverell fought back late in the first half to be down 26-18 before taking the lead 34-30 midway through the second half. Moree regained the lead with 10 minutes remaining, then with one of the Moree players requiring injury treatment for the last 4 minutes whilst Inverell was camped on the opposition try line ready to attack, the Boars were lucky to escape with a 36-34 win.
Best and Fairest: 3/ Ronald Blair 2/ Robert Ellis 1/ Julian Schutz.
In a very courageous performance, the Inverell RSM Hawks juniors were defeated 24-10 in a score that was not a true reflection of the match.
Having taken the field with only 11 players the Hawks were on the defensive early with two tries to Moree in the first 10 minutes. A further try to Moree and a late try to Inverell’s Jack McAuliffe had the first half time score 14-4 to Moree.
A try to Hawks captain Jack Stafford midway through the second half had the Hawks back in the match trailing 14-10. This remained the score line until 2 minutes from full time when Moree scored the match sealing try. A further try after full time had Moree run out victors 24-10.
Best and Fairest: 3/ Jack Stafford 2/ Ethan Campbell 1/ Jack McAuliffe.
The Inverell Hawkettes turned in their weekly spirited performance before going down 24-12 to the Moree Boars. Again this side was short of players, and if the team could somehow manage to get their full compliment of players on the field, they have the potential to feature in the finals matches at the end of the season.
The Hawkettes were first to score through Lenikke Craigie before the Boars managed to cross for tries in the 8th and 16th minutes to lead 10-4. Codie Ryan scored just prior to half time to have the Hawkettes trailing 10-8 at the break.
The Moree team crossed for three further tries in the second half to a sole try by April Lindsay-Constable of the Hawkettes. The final score resulted in a win for Moree by 24-12.
Best and Fairest: 3/ Lenikke Craigie 2/ Codie Ryan 1/ Yvette Nelson.
The Hawks will return to Varley Oval on Saturday when they host the Armidale Rams.
