Amazing start to Cutters season with home win

Angus Helps (pictured) makes a successful high take to the halfback. On several occasions Helps stole Griffith’s ball in the lineout and the Cutters kept getting possession back. Photo: Magie McClelland.

With no pre-season games played by the Cutters, it was straight into a tough encounter with the Griffith side on Saturday.

On what was a warm day to play Rugby, the Cutters ran onto the field with no reserves, whereas the Griffith side came with a full team and some handy reserves.

Griffith scored the first try after the Cutters dominated play up the other end of the field for long periods of time. The conversion was unsuccessful, and Griffith led 5-0.

A well-earned drink behind the goalposts revitalised the Cutters, who were next to score and convert. The score was then 7-5.

The Cutters had to match it up front and there were some strong runs by Lochie Ireson, James Lott and Harry Agar out wide. The team was also boosted with some handy players having a run for the Cutters for the first time.

Rupert Lilburne was in the thick of it and smashed his way over the line. Harry Agar missed the conversion, and the score was 12-5.

Size up front tested the Cutters in defence; however, this did not worry the likes of Tom Lilburne, Ben Ryan and James Harrison. Taking the big men down time and time again by going low around the legs.

Just before the halftime break Angus Helps made his way through the Griffith defence, close to the goalposts. The conversion was successful by Agar and Hay had a handy lead of 19-5.

Hay got off to a sluggish start in the second half.

A series of penalties didn’t helping their cause. But Angus Helps stole Griffith’s ball in the lineout on several occasions and the Cutters kept getting possession back. A dropped ball by Griffith was toed through by Harry Agar and he managed to toe it all the way to the try line with several Griffith players in hot pursuit. A great individual try, but unfortunately, he couldn’t convert but Hay was well in front at 24-12.

Cutters started to drop off the tackles as they took the Griffith players up high, but some nice kicking by Harry Ryan at number ten got the Cutters back down on Griffith’s line.

Rupert Lilburne smashed his way over for a second time.

Conversion was unsuccessful leaving the score at 29-12.

In his second year with the Cutters, Ollie Cameron made a great break and made it all the way up the field to be bought down just before the line.

Griffith kept running at Hay and was rewarded with a late try by their halfback. Conversion was unsuccessful ad Hay kept their home-ground winning streak to win 29-19.

Coach Lilburne was impressed with the team effort considering six key players were unavailable this round. Defence was outstanding.

Points were awarded to James Harrison 1 point, Tom Lilburne 2 points, Rupert Lilburne 3 points. Players player Ben Ryan.

Next week Cutters take on last year’s Premiers, Wagga City at Wagga.