Saturated and soggy conditions graced Glen Innes on Sunday as the Magpies hosted Inverell in the highly-anticipated round 12 Group 19 fixture.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The opening game of the day saw a tightly contested league game game between two top four teams.
The home side took a 4-nil advantage into half-time but Inverell were able to climb their way back into the game to win 12-8.
After a loss to Armidale last week in the under 18s, Glen Innes needed to bounce back and they did so with a dominant second-half performance against the Hawks.
Leading 6-nil at the break, Glen Innes raced away to win the encounter 22-6.
In another top four contest, the A grade fixture went down to the wire.
Both sides were looking to stamp their authority on the competition and came out firing.
Inverell were first to put points on the board with halfback Mick Walton placing a cross-field kick and finding winger Jack Stafford.
Nine minutes later Glen Innes were able to capitalise on an Inverell mistake for John-Henry Williamson to score and bring the scoreline to 6-4.
Brendan Blaker posted points next for the homeside but again the conversion was missed as Glen Innes took the lead 8-6.
The hosts held their two-point advantage into the half-time break.
It took 11 minutes of scrappy football to see the first points scored as the Hawks clawed their way back to take the lead via a converted try to Josh Boyd.
A mistake off the re-start gifted Glen Innes possession and they capitalised with former Inverell hooker Guy Mepham landing a pin-point kick into the hands of a flying Joel Jackson in the corner to level things back up.
Mepham missed the conversion for the scores to remain locked at 12-all.
Back-to-back sets on Glen Innes’ line saw Inverell edge back in front with a converted try to Harold Duncan.
With less than 10 minutes on the clock, the Magpies’ Jamie Watts scooted out from dummy-half to score a four pointer next to the posts.
Mepham made no mistake this time round with the conversion to draw level again at 18-all.
Neither side were able to post another point and split the spoils with a draw.