If you missed going to the Magpies, Orara Valley game on Sunday you missed a thriller. In first grade, with the scores fluctuating throughout the entire game, one spectator even asking the timekeeper to refrain from ringing the bell so he could keep watching more of the action. The reserve grade game was also an entertaining affair while U18s were given a bit of a shock by the Women’s League Tag team.
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The Magpies were off to a flying start with coach Troy Robinson crossing for a try. Then the young Magpie forwards showed that they were not going to be intimidated by their more highly rated opponents to hold the Axemen out and force a mistake. This resulted in Chris Morcombe crossing for another Magpie try after a well-worked backline move.
The Magpies lead 8-0 at the quarter time mark.
Not to be outdone, the bigger Orara Valley forwards then began making good ground against a tiring Magpie defence and this resulted in the Axemen scoring three converted tries to Edward Vale-Tighe, Mal Webster and Jeremy Taylor to have them in the lead 18-8 at half time.
The Magpies looking at another heavy defeat … how wrong can one be?
The Magpies scored another try early in the second half after a length of the field try to Jarrod Edwards. Troy Robinson crossed soon after and with Jarrod Edwards’ successful conversion the scores tied up at 18-18. Corey Cross, Jack Mitchell and Luke Suter in this period really upset the opposition with their controlled aggression in defence and attack.
At midway through the second half Shane Holten was over for the Magpies. Jarrod Successfully converted the try and the Magpies were in front 24-18.
Mal Webster and Steven Walker then crossed for the Axemen as the Anthony Cowan converted both for the Axemen to regain the lead 28-14. A Troy Robinson try was then disallowed before Arthur Murthy crossed for the Magpies to tie the scores at 28-28.
Unfortunately, the Axemen regained the ball from the kick-off, which led to a late penalty to the Axemen. With the crowd holding their breath Anthony Cowan converted and the Axemen escaped with a win 30-28.
Reserve grade was also an entertaining game although the Axemen always seemed to have the upper hand. Warren Cutmore scored in the first half and with Rob Farrell converting the Magpies trailed 18-6 at half time. Tyler Blair and Rhys Bonventi scored tries for the Magpies in the second half but the Axmen proved too good to win 30-16.
Melissa Spillet gained good metres up the middle with Sissiel Tuhi, Sophie Keough, Mia Craggs, Abbey Osland and Shelby Osland and all crossing for tries for the Women’s League Tag team as they just went down to the U18s. Thanks to the U18 players that turned up.
Next game sees the Magpies take on the Grafton Ghosts at Grafton on Sunday with a bus leaving the map at 9am.
