After a very long 1043 days the spell was broken and First Grade came up with their first win in all that time. 

Reserve Grade were defeated and unexpectedly the Women’s League Tag team were beaten in an exciting game.

In First Grade the Magpies were off to a flyer through tries to Luke Beaumont and Arthur Murphy that were converted by Luke to give them a 12-0 lead after ten minutes. 

Then through a run of possession and a couple of mistakes the Axemen hit back to even up the scores. 

Solid defence by the Magpies then turned the game around again and late in the half Daniel Slater and Louis Taylor crossed for tries, Luke Beaumont converted both and the Magpies went to the break leading 24-12.

All the talk at half time was about not letting this game slip away as many have done in the past. 

However, this could have been the case as the Axemen with a 7-2 penalty count and a few 50/50 calls going their way were on top for most of the second half. It was only desperate defence by the Magpies that held them at bay. The Axemen scored early in the half to get to 24-16 and it was not till very late in the game that Daniel Slater crossed for his second try. Luke kept his 100 per cent record intact with a successful conversion and there were smiles all round as the Magpies took the competition points with a 30-16 win.

While all the players can hold their heads high special mention should go be made of Zane Cross an U18 making his First Grade debut in the front row and more than holding his own.

No doubt the Reserve Graders are improving each week and with more than a full contingent of players turning up to play a win is not that far away. Chris Morcombe crossed the line for two unconverted tries for the Magpies to see them lose 36-8.

As Orara do not have an U18s team the Magpies’ U18ss picked up another two competition points and it would be good to see them get a few reserves available for their next game.

In Women’s League Tag Sarah Beaumont crossed early for the Magpies. Her successful conversion took the Magpies to a 6-0 lead. The Axewomen evened up the scores with a try late in the last minute of the half.

Completing only one full set in the second half the Magpies were always up against it however Sophie Keough scored a good try after a fifty-metre run. Sarah successfully converted and the Magpies lead 12-6. Orara again evened up the scores with a try and a successful conversion from the sideline. The game then went from end to end as neither team could score before Orara were awarded a penalty in front late in the half for them to take the lead 14-12.

In the last minute of the game Maz Campbell put Kristy Glyde away down the sideline despite Kristy feeling the effects of celebrating another birthday during the week. Backing up and taking the inside pass Maz scored under the posts. However by some bad misfortune one of her tags was missing so the try had to be disallowed.  

The Magpies going down 14-12.

Sunday coming the Magpies play Nambucca Heads at home in four grades beginning at 11am. 

If you have not seen a League Tag game then you should get to the ground early and have a look.