HAWKS Men’s D-grade team clashed with the Thornton Beresfield Bears on a chilly, but clear, afternoon at Myall Park on Saturday 21 June, ending the game at 16-22.
The Hawks’ first score came only three minutes in after a fifth-tackle kick by the Hawks.
A Bear defender failed to secure the ball, letting it bounce in-goal – allowing Hawk Bailey Hepplewhite to slap it down and make contact with the ground.
The Bears’ first attempts to score met with a strong Hawks defence.
The pressure mounted with fierce tackles all round, but the Hawks held the ball at the 20m line.
Soon enough, the Hawks’ James Sinclair received the ball near halfway, and jumped through a window of unprepared Bears to fly up the left wing and swoop around to score between the uprights, leaving his brother Alex to kick the conversion.
The size of the Bears became more noticeable, as tackles required two or three Hawks.
Just as they began to move the ball back in the right direction, a Hawks pass was intercepted by a lucky Bear, only 10 metres out, who fled for the line and scored with 10 minutes left in the first.
The Hawks’ defence held strong, only letting through the fluke plays, however a last-minute lapse in concentration in the first half allowed a Bear to grab the ball and score, the conversion snatching the first half for the Bears.
The second half saw more back-and-forth across the field with the Bears scoring again as the shadows stretched along the grass.
Alex Sinclair then intercepted a pass to score right next to the posts, successfully converting for the full six points.
After heated exchanges elsewhere on the field, and with only 11 minutes to go, the Bears managed another converted try to move six points ahead.
The Hawks, and their home crowd, gathered steam and secured a few penalties against the Bears.
The visitors proceeded to drop the ball, which the Hawks scooped up, only to be dragged over the sideline with the score 16-22 at the buzzer.
The Hawks have played only six games this year due to wash-outs.
This was their closest scoreline to date and the most tries scored since Round 1.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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