The Harden Hawks are going into finals strong, finishing off the main season with an 80-0 win against UC Stars at McLean Oval on Saturday. They look ahead to their first finals game against Binalong on Sunday.
Coach Nick Hall said while the match could give the boys some confidence, it would be a misstep to underestimate Binalong.“UC have had a long, tough year where they haven’t had a win yet and having some games like that, I’m sure mentally and physically they’re fairly beaten up, and they’re right at the end of the race for them.
“They had some injured blokes; they were pretty gutsy to show up and play in their last game, and we appreciate that from them. But at the end of the game, it was just tough going from them, and you’re not playing for much, so sometimes when you’re not playing for much, the result can really get away from you, and that’s all that happened to them on the weekend. It’s not either of them as a side or blokes, it was just the end, and they’ll be back next year for sure.
“It probably is reflective of it and symptomatic of this year as well. It’s been a long, hard year, and they played some good sides, so they’ll dust themselves off and come back.
“For our blokes, it probably reflected how we are going as well. We’ve been the best for and against side all year out of all the comps. We’ve got the best points differential, so we’ve been the best defensive side in the comp, and, strangely, there are four teams within one point, three teams equal first, and us one point behind. That’s so strange.
“We had three losses and a draw, and they were all within around one try’s difference in every game, so we didn’t lose the games by much. In any of those four games, if we scored one more try, we would have been minor premiers. It’s a really strange situation to be in.
“Nonetheless, we go into the semi-finals in fourth spot, and we play our old sparring partners, Binalong, and we’ve had some tough games against those guys the last couple of years.
“It’s an old cliche, and in this competition, you indeed get yourself right, and it will be alright. We’re worrying about ourselves; we know they’ve got threats all across the field. We know they’re smart and tough, and you just can’t get anything off Binalong. Every time you run, they’re in front of you, everywhere you go, they’re in front of you. Mentally and physically, they’re scrappers and they’re fighters, so you respect those sides and we know what we’re up against.
“We’ve also got a couple of clever footballers who’ve got some good moments in them. We have got to be really careful, it’s going to be a tough game.
“It’s exciting for the Harden Hawks this year. The girls are playing on Saturday in the qualification game.”
The elimination game is on Sunday, where the Hawks are looking to move forward in the George Tooke Shield at 2:30 pm for a home ground McLean Oval game of solid finals footy.
– Jack Murray
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