The Harden Hawks travelled to Cootamundra last Saturday to play in an elimination final against the Bulldogs. Unfortunately for the Hawks the Bulldogs claimed the 12-11 win with a penalty goal in the late stages of the game.
The game was described by Hawks Coach Nick Hall as, “they did well but i would say it was a close game as the score indicated. We gave it as good as we got it and we led at periods of the game.
We kicked a field goal and it went try for try, they scored and we scored. So it was a tight, tough game.”
The conditions during the week led to a boggy track which played an impact for the Hawks as coach Hall explains, “it was a tight tough game. The miserable conditions kept it tight as well. It was rainy and wet so it wasn’t a great day for big open football, which probably was against us a little bit because we would normally throw the ball around a fair bit so we had to tighten up a little bit to control the footy.”
The game went back and forth with a lot of tough defence, with the score being 10-10 with only 10 to go the Hawks made a brave call. Jacob Lucas decided to kick a field goal three tackles into their set and with 10 minutes to go to put the Hawks ahead 11-10.
After the loss of star player Will Hills early, Coach Hall said, “disappointing, frustrating, we lost Will Hills in the first five which is a real loss for a lot of speed and creativity around the ruck, a little bit of defensive line speed, he can keep it together very well.”
With plenty of time left the Bulldogs put up a good fight, asking many questions of the Hawk’s defence and especially their back three with some good kicking in the tough conditions.
However, Harden held strong until in the 75th minute the Hawks gave away a penalty for a high tackle 38 metres out in the centre of the field.
A successful kick by the Bulldogs sharp shooter Luke Levett brought the score to 12-10 to the Bulldogs.
Right on the buzzer the Hawks threw everything they had at Coota and nearly scored a try in the corner, however, the try was called back due to a hard-to-see foot out of bounds.
Coach Hall talked about the Heartbreaking calls by the referee saying, “a few penalties from us and a few forward passes that just make one of those days. When it’s a close performance you’ll argue those calls. We’ll say they weren’t a forward pass or that should have been a try and they’ll argue the other way. In the end you just got to cop it and say they beat us.”
Giving full credit to the Coota players’ effort, Coach Hall said, “Coota played with a little bit more urgency and maybe the home ground and the desire helped them.
They have a big physical side and they really wanted it.”
“I think it was a year where we performed well, considering the vast number of changes we had in our side.
We had a new coach, a new style, a new everything and players stuck it together really well so I’m looking forward to next year and getting them all back and continuing on.
I think we’ll be a side that others will have to watch.”
Ed Dodds
