The much awaited clash between the Harden Hawks and the Binalong Brahmans took place on Saturday afternoon at the Binalong Recreation Oval. Threatening grey clouds rolled back to reveal brilliant sunshine and the stage was set for the heavy-weight contest.
Harden kicked off, unaccustomedly “away from the pub” for the first half in front of a large crowd. After just two minutes, Hawks 5/8 Atallah put up a soaring bomb. Harden centre Adam Byrne won the contest for the ball and after sprinting 30 metres scored in the left corner. The conversion was missed but the Hawks had drawn first blood. 4-0. A hush fell over the Binalong supporters.
The contest went from end to end and only minutes later, Brahman Brad Wylie put on a classic dummy-half’s try and levelled the scores. Craig Irwin landed the conversion to put Binalong in front 6-4.
The arm wrestle continued until the hosts put on a wide sweeping ball movement to put Dave Brown in for the first of his two tries for the day. The conversion was missed from wide out and the score went to 10-4, Brahman’s way.
Harden realised that an earlier bomb had paid dividends and launched another. Tyson Astill accepted it with open arms, and instantly passed to Luke Brown who raced in under the posts for a six pointer and a 10 All scoreline.
Play was in the Hawk’s possession as the half-time hooter sounded. In an endeavour to punt the ball through and have their speedy winger chase, the kick was charged down rebounding into the Hawks in-goal area. In the mad scramble that followed James Blair won the race to score for the Brahmans, and they led 14-10.
When the players resumed the field, bright sunlight was now in the eyes of the visitors but they did have the benefit of a slight breeze from the east.
The Waldren Construction Brahmans wasted no time in laying on another try, initiated by Matt Lawrence. Dave Brown crossed out wide and with no conversion the score crept on to 18-10.
Soon after in reply Adam Byrne scored another brilliant Hawk’s try, his second, narrowing the gap to 18-14.
Harden looked dangerous at this stage hammering Binalong’s line for two sets of 6 tackles, but the Brahman’s defence held firm. The Hawks then received what looked like a penalty, but after a bit of a scuffle the referee reversed his decision.
With Brahman’s Captain, Chris Rawlinson on the sidelines with a serious hand injury, there was one less threat to the Hawks. The visitors had managed to keep the dangerous Cooke and Naughton under control but these players can be watched for only so long and suddenly the large crowd witnessed Scott Naughton slice through the Hawk’s defence.
From a handy position, Craig Irwin slotted the extras to bring up a ten point lead with 11 minutes remaining. To their credit, Harden didn’t give up and replied a minute later with an unconverted try.
All they now needed was another converted try to level the scores and enforce the extra time rule. Nine very tense minutes followed with repeated attacks on the Brahman’s line. The boys in blue were able to hold off the determined Hawks for a good win.
Binalong 24 (Tries: D.Brown (2), B.Wylie, J.Blair and S.Naughton, Goals: C.Irwin (2). Defeated Harden 18 (Tries: A. Byrne (2) C. Beal, Luke Brown, Goals: A Atallah. Referee: Mr. Luke Barrow.
The Brahman side has set the benchmark in the competition in 2013 and 2014 seasons with the Hawks coming closer than any other side over those two years. The Yass Magpies will be hungry to beat the Hawks for the first time in nearly two years when they face off on Saturday.
Even without Captain Coach Chris Rawlinson the Brahmans proved too strong for the Hawks who have been unable to claim a win against the Brahmans in those two years.
Harden will have several of their key men retire after this season in Beal and Turner and possibly Captain Coach Luke Brown. The ageless Jon Hill is fitter than ever and playing some excellent football however may finish his career at season’s end also.
The competition has fallen in to two categories this year the competitive sides and the non competitive sides. There is little between Binalong, Yass, Harden and Bungendore and a large gap to Boomanulla, Boorowa and Crookwell.
Crookwell seem to fair better at home when they play on Sundays with the help of their union side. The Brahmans will have a week off whilst the Hawks will do battle for their chance to get revenge on last year’s result.
The question that awaits spectators Saturday afternoon is whether the Hawk’s can remain undefeated against Yass for two seasons and set up a thriller against the seemingly indomitable Binalong Brahmans.
Thankyou to Bos Indicus and Wings.
Picture: Harden’s Tim Pinney carries out a copybook traditional tackle on Binalong Brahman Prop, Reuban Olah. (Photo courtesy of R.S. Williams).
