Harden Five Eight Matt McLay dives over for a try whilst three Gunning Roos defenders attempt to tackle him. McLay looks to be integral to the Hawks premiership hopes for 2016 with the talented player and fitness fanatic’s skill set, a rung above the George Tooke competition. (Photo Galleries on Facebook)
Following a first round win on the Gunning Showground, by Harden, it was the GUNNING KANGAROOS Rugby League Team that was welcomed by the HARDEN HAWKS to McLean Oval last Saturday. The Roos must have felt like they would be “ Running on Clover “ at first glance at Harden’s top grade playing field. The match was delayed for sometime, as they waited for the Snowy Mountain’s Helicopter to depart the ground, transporting an U18’s visiting player, injured in an earlier match. The Chopper left in brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies. Then the HARDEN HAWKS kicked off, from the hill end. Gunning immediately used up their 5 tackles and kicked. And Harden followed suit, ending close to the try line.
A scrum went down and with a Hawk’s win the ball was passed out their backline. Adam Byrne the Fullback was on the end of it and notched Harden’s first try wide out. (4 nil.) Soon after Gunning attacked and put up a high bomb which bounced every possible angle. Their half back following through toed the ball ahead into the Hawks in-goal area and dived on it to level the scores at 4 all. The Hawks Reply was swift and sure, with their dashing five-eighth Matt McLay, touching down for Harden’s second. Nathan Schofield’s conversion boomeranged from right to left ( as Thurston does ) to make the score Harden 10 Roos 4.
To rub salt into things McClay scored again almost in the blink of an eye 16-4. At this stage the Hawks were well on top, and consolidated when Centre Jayson Smith burst down the sideline to deliver a crisp little pass to his winger Josh Quinn and the lanky lad did the rest, between the posts for a scoreline of Hawks 22 Kangaroos 4. Matt McLay was in the action once again when he sent a bulletlike pass to Flying winger Riley Manwaring to score. Nathan Schofield had the kicking boots on well and truly, boosting the score to 28-4.
Matty McLay was certainly having a field day when he repeated the dose putting Manwaring over once again for a Half-time score of 32 to 4. The swirl of the Helicopter blades had well and truly gone, but Harden Hawks still had a lot of go left in them. However, contrary to Harden’s script the Gunning Kangaroos jumped into gear after only one and a half minutes of the resumption second stanza their Centre ( NO 4) scored between the Hawk’s Sticks. 32-10.
Harden soon woke-up, and with Matt McLay putting his side back in the driver’s seat, scoring beneath the crossbar after a deft pass from his half back Nathan Schofield. The Harden Hawks were handling the ball and defending exceptionately well, all match.They added another Try at this stage particularly when winger Josh Quinn scored his second try. QUINNY as he raced over, must have been thinking of the Singapore Holiday his family had just returned from, where he saw the “WINGS OF TIME” place. Justin Stewart returning from an injury , capitalised soon after making the tally 46-10, with a handy try.
Poor old Gunning were competely outclassed, but didn’t stop trying. Hawks prop forward Big Bustling Boy Charley Butt, was the Hawks final tryscorer. And as the shadows lengthened over McLean Oval amidst slithers of the sun’s rays, the final Siren signalled a convincing victory for HARDEN HAWKS 52-10.The locals have had an excellent Season, and gradually built up to this, their BEST PERFORMANCE of 2016. The next encounter is against Boomanulla on Saturday in Canberra.
