Harden’s Chris Salway takes down a Crookwell player in 2018.
The first weekend Wasn’t it great that last Saturday Crookwell Green Devils brought their “own” weather with them. Well I suppose it wasn’t that bad, so we lent them an Arctic Blast, just for old times sake.
For our SPONSOR’s DAY the Hawks donned the mainly sky blue jumpers tinged with a splash of red and white. Crookwell wore their usual Emerald Green strip.
The Crookwell Green Devils started proceedings booting deep to the Hawks 10 metre line, where they brought it back. But on the forth tackle spilt the pill. Everyone hoped this wouldn’t be a repeat of what occurred the previous week.
When they gained possession Crookwell many times kicked deep towards the Anzac corner of McLean Oval. They obviously had a plan to hem the Hawks in their own Half.
Crookwell regained the ball and after pressing the Hawks line their Front Rower charged over beside the right hand upright for a good try and the conversion was successful Crookwell 6 Harden 0.
Harden weren’t long with their payback. Because after a few crushing rucks, lock Pat Smith was on the end of one and dived over in a handy position for the attempt at conversion which was successful, levelling the scores at 6-all.
Soon after Harden were penalised for an infringement, but the kick from the Green Devils failed to find the line. Bringing the ball up Harden looked like scoring, however, the defence of Crookwell held.
Crookwell ran the ball until on the last tackle when they bombed. On regaining the ball again after, they threw it out their backline where their centre scored in a handy position. The conversion was unsuccessful and Crookwell led 10-6.
Crookwell’s centre was in for a second try soon after and it was 16-6 to the Devils.
Harden were attacking in fine style but the half time siren beat them.
During the break, supporters just had time to down a pie and a can of Coke, as the sun periodically poked its head between the monsterous grey clouds passing over.
Down by 10 points the Hawks had a bit of catching up to do. They began by attacking. But a pass was intercepted and the Crookwell three-quarter ran 50 metres to score between the posts. At 22-6 the Hawks looked out of the ball-game.
As you know when you kick you usually give the opposition possession. And although Harden attacked the Crookwell tryline on countless occasions, they were repeatedly chip kicking for the corner post side. After many of these, Crookwell woke up and easily defused the situation.
The Green Devils at this stage were well on top and to put icing on the cake their Hooker NO 9, one of the Picker boys, crashed over for a 6 pointer and the score line read 28-6.
And you wouldn’t believe right at the death the Hawks scored 2 consolation tries. One to Ben Davis the other to Jono Pouono, making the final score Crookwell 28 Harden 14.
There’s only one game left for teams in the George Tooke Shield original draw. Hardens is against Boorowa at McLean Oval, on Saturday 3-30pm
WINGS.
