It was a clean sweep at Hay Park on Sunday, when Hay Magpies hosted Yanco Hawks for round nine of the Group 20 rugby league competition.
Yanco has struggled for numbers this season, and after round five, successfully petitioned to be allowed to drop back into reserve grade. This meant only two games were played on Sunday – the women’s 9’s competition has gone into recess until the finals series.
The quality of play was high and spirits lifted in the crowd as Hay ground out an exciting win in the reserve grade clash.
Hay’s Mitchell Marlin posted the first points of the game, to open the tough encounter, but the Hawks hit back with two quick tries in reply.
First Grade coach Ben Taylor enjoyed a run in ressies, allowing reserve grad coach James McLean to direct play from the sideline. He was without the services of team backbone players Shayne Kennedy and Zac O’Neill who urged the team forward from the bench.
The defensive effort of Jerry Balenawi, Jack Bolger and Ryan Gash was consistent throughout the game.
Zane Gash starred across the field, menacing the Hawks with punishing attacking runs, that made him hard to contain. He crossed the line twice in the second half, when the game pressure mounted. His combination with brothers Ryan and Luke Deacon unfolded in front of the cheering home game crowd, and the trio were among Hay’s best.
Taylor scored next however Yanco pulled ahead to go into the break with a ten-point lead.
A fifth tackle regather by Hay sent Taylor across the line after the restart, but Yanco also crossed, drawing ahead on the scoreboard.
McLean made well-timed adjustments to his squad, rotating forwards Jesse Lewis and Matt Smith for maximum impact. New recruit Jacob Blight-McKeon pulled off some bone crunching tackles that belied his slight stature.
The Magpies posted the next two tries to even the score at 24 all before Balenawi was sinbinned for a lifting tackle with ten minutes of game time remaining.
Hay buckled down to cover the loss and drove the win forward, as Gash crossed with six minutes to go. Patty Miller added the vital conversion points. Sensing the win the Magpies valiantly defended their line until the final siren sounded.
The win lifts Hay to third place on the Toby Blunt Cup ladder.
Final score: Hay 30 (Tries Ben Taylor 2, Zane Gash 2, Mitchell Marlin, Jerry Balenawi. Goals: Patty Miller 3) Yanco 24.
In the league tag match the Magpies outpaced a determined Yanco outfit. The Hawks had just one interchange player, and lagged in the second half as fatigue set in.
Hay dominated both possession and field position to post a 60 to nil victory.
The Magpies used the breadth of the field to roll out a barrage of tries, building on a 22-point halftime lead. The speed at which Hay sent the ball across the attacking line, kept the Hawks on the backfoot.
Number one oval offered up a soggy playing surface following heavy rain and the Saturday evening Hay Cutters union game, yet there were few handling errors by the Magpies.
In a try-heavy match coach Jessie Carter crossed four times and booted three conversations. Lily Weymouth and Zoe McRae both posted doubles and Karly Fisher contributed 10 points.
Final score: Hay 60 (Tries: Jessie Carter 4, Lily Weymouth 2, Zoe McRae 2, Hannah Stewart, Karly Fisher, Larissa Sorensen, Di Plum. Goals: Jessie Carter 3, Karly Fisher 3) Yanco 0.
The Magpies will enjoy a general bye for the June Long Weekend before travelling to Lake Cargelligo to meet the TLU Sharks in three grades.
This article appeared in The Riverine Grazier, 5 June 2024.
