It was a battle waged not just on the field, but on the scoreboard, as the Harden Hawks and the Bungendore Tigers fought to a tense 22-22 draw. For the Hawks, it was a match of missed opportunities and hard-won lessons, a feeling their coach, Nick Hall, knew all too well.
“It was a funny old game,” Hall mused, the echo of the final whistle still hanging in the air. He felt his team had played better than the score suggested, but the Tigers were a good side and had capitalised on every small chance the Hawks gave them.
“They just took a couple of chances, probably against the run of play, where I’d suggest, I think, we were the better side.” It was a tough lesson, one he hoped would stick. You can’t give a good team an inch. But despite the draw, Hall was happy. This was their best performance in months, a sign they were hitting their stride at the right time. The team was playing a better style of football, and that was exactly what they needed heading into the finals. The draw was a mixed blessing. It secured the Hawks a top-four spot, but it also made their path forward a little more complicated. They could now finish no higher than third, and their final seeding would be decided by the outcome of a single match: the clash between Crookwell and Boorowa.
“It’s a pretty clear picture now,” Hall said, laying out the scenarios. The Hawks needed to beat the UC Stars next week, a win he was confident they’d get, but not take for granted. If Crookwell beat Boorowa, the Hawks would finish third and face the Bungendore Tigers again in the first round of the semis. If Boorowa won, the Hawks would drop to fourth and take on Binalong. Hall was already looking ahead, doing the mental math that coaches do at this time of year. The stakes were high, and the potential matchups were tantalising. If they finished third, they’d get a second shot at the grand final, a safety net they’d lost with the draw. For Hall, this was the time of year when teams were either hardened or broken. His team had faced some tough games, and while that had led to a few minor in-juries, he believed the battle scars were a good thing.
“There’s an old saying in bike riding in the Tour de France,” he shared, “sometimes that tired legs ride further, they ride better.” He believed a little battle-weariness was better than being too fresh and getting blind-sided by a tough opponent. The hard games build toughness and resilience, and that’s exactly what his team had right now. He was proud of the team’s effort, a “cliche” team performance that was exactly what he’d been looking for. The defence was connected, even with a few moments of slipping up. He called out some standout performances.
Jayden Cutting was dangerous, scoring two tries. The entire middle unit, especially Corey Lucas and Steve Anderson, put in huge games defensively. Jack Nichols was solid at the back, and the edges, Tom McIllhatton and Steele Rudd, had tons of carries and looked threatening all day. As the team looked toward the final game of the season, their focus was simple: don’t get complacent.
The UC Stars would love nothing more than to spoil the Hawks’ party and end their season on a high note. “I want to make sure they don’t do that to us,” Hall said with a determined look. The regular season was winding down, but the real fight was just beginning. The Hawks were battle-hardened, and they were ready for it.
George Tooke Shield Round 15 Results: Binalong Brahmans (40) def UC Stars (12). Boorowa Rovers (78) def Googong Goannas (0). North Canberra Bears (24) def Snowy River Bears (18). Harden Hawks (22) draw Bungendore Tigers (22). Crookwell Green Devils had the bye.
George Tooke Shield Round 16 Draw: Boorowa Rovers vs Crookwell Green Devils. Snowy River Bears vs Googong Goannas. North Canberra Bears vs Binalong Brahmans. Harden Hawks vs UC Stars Saturday 3:00 pm at McLean Oval. Bungendore Tigers have the bye.
George Tooke Shield Ladder: 1. Bungendore Tigers, 20pts, 310. 2. Crookwell Green Devils, 20pts, 177. 3. Boorowa Rovers, 18pts, 296. 4. Harden Hawks, 17pts, 240. 5. Binalong Brahmans, 13pts, 64. 6. North Canberra Bears, 10pts, -12. 7. Snowy River Bears, 8pts -205. 8. Googong Goannas, 4pts, -402. 9. UC Stars, 0pts, -468.
– Tully Potts
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