The Bellingen Valley / Dorrigo Magpies played the Orara Valley Axemen on Sunday at the Graveyard. To paraphrase Scomo miracles can and do happen as First Grade had their first win of the season, the Reserves, however, did have a loss and the League Tag had a win.
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The Axemen scored early in the First Grade encounter after a mistake by the Magpies from the kick-off. It did not take long for the Magpies to reply as Tex Harrell scored his first try off a well-worked move, Larnus Leisha converted and the Magpies led 6-4. Movement of the ball from one sideline to the other by the home side then had the Axemen on the back-foot and this with some clever tactical kicking by Larnus Leisha had the Axemen constantly scrambling. Louis Taylor and Daniel Tempest scoring tries, Luke Beaumont converting the last to take the Magpies out to 16-4. Steven Cetenich scored for the Axemen and Liam Dunn converted to edge them closer at 16-10. A late penalty conversion by Luke Beaumont made the half time score 18-10.
An early try to Jedaiah Katal with a successful Liam Dunn conversion had the Magpie supporters more than a little worried at 18-16 but this was eased a little when Luke Beaumont lept to take a Larnus Leisha bomb and cleverly off-loaded for Larnus to score under the black dot. Luke converted to make the score 24-16. A slick backline movement then put young winger Isaac Dillon over in the corner. Larnus Leisha converted and the Magpies looked home at 30-16.
The game was not over yet as the Axemen dug deep with converted tries to Ryan Gill and Liam Dunn to move the Axemen to 30-28. They then had a try disallowed and a late penalty to Luke Beaumont left the final score at 32-28.
Ill discipline brought the Magpies undone in Reserve Grade as very few teams could win with a penalty count of 16-5 against them. The Magpies did try hard but were always on the back foot. Lee Tuhi and Jay Munday did score clever tries for the Magpies,Josh Shearim converting one, but the Magpies went down 40-10.
In women's League Tag the Magpies put in a near faultless first half with only one mistake, a dropped ball midway through the half. Tina McRae crossed first, off a clever off-load. This was followed by some clever passing to allow Sissiel Keough, Kayla Edwards and Abbey Osland to score. Shelby Osland converted the last of these and the Magpies went to the break leading 18-0.
The second half was a tight struggle with Kayla Edwards scoring late to take the Magpies out to 22-0. Right on full time Orara managed to score a try to leave the final score at 22-4.
Next week the Magpies play the Coffs Comets on Saturday evening.
