Carter leads Hay Magpies from the front

Hay Magpies captain coach Jessie Carter (centre) scored five tries in Hay’s win over Griffith Waratahs. Image: The Riverine Grazier / Krista Schade.

By Krista Schade

Hay Magpies league tag captain coach Jessie Carter crossed for an incredible five tries in the team’s win over Griffith Waratahs on Sunday.

Despite a slow start in the first half, Hay knuckled down in the second stanza to pile on the points and out play the ‘Tahs team on their home ground at the Exies Club oval.

Wendy Gonevulavula also crossed and Karly Fisher added three successful conversions to Hay’s total.

With seven season wins under their belt, the Hay side is edging towards a finals appearance but has a difficult task before them this week when they meet Leeton at home on Sunday.

Leeton is second on the Group 20 league tag ladder and accounted for Hay 48 nil in round six, however the Magpies have proven they can bring down the big names at home – they trounced third placed Black & Whites at home just three weeks ago.

From there Hay should be confident of securing big wins over Darlington Point, Coleambally and the struggling Yanco Hawks at the back end of the regular season. The shuffling between teams at the top of the ladder will be out of Hay’s hands, however, Sunday’s match will be a vital step towards a solid finish to the season.

The game kicks off at 12.30pm.

Final score: Hay 30 (Tries: Jessie Carter 5, Wendy Gonevulavula 1. Goals: Karly Fisher 3) Waratahs 4.

Sam Barnes made a welcome return to the Magpies reserve grade team, having an impact in the centre in the number 9 jersey. Hay struggled for numbers during the week and while they had a short bench, managed to field a full side for the kick-off.

Matt Dowse attacked the Waratahs line early and was unlucky not to score. Griffith turned possession around and scored a length of the field try but Hay hit back with a try of their own, when Zane Gash crashed over.

In the fast-paced match Jack Morrison served Hay well, moving the ball forward with every carry. Shaun Aylett was outstanding for the Magpies, despite backing up from his ProTen semi-final appearance for Ivanhoe the day before.

The Magpies went into the break trailing 14-4 however the home side applied the pressure in the second half and began to pile on the points.

Hay took advantage of a sin-bin, when ‘Tahs lost a player for a high shot, and intercepts by Ryan Gash and Mitchell Marlin provided Hay with good progression up the field.

Aylett’s efforts were rewarded when he muscled over the line and Ryan Gash added the conversion. Thomas Fixter, Jacob Blight-McKeon and Marlin didn’t stop all game, chasing down runaway ‘Tahs players and defending their line against heavier opponents. Their efforts meant the Griffith tries were scored out wide, hampering conversion efforts and keeping the score in check.

A scuffle broke out as the final siren sounded after Zane Gash was upended in a dangerous tackle and both wingers – Hay’s Marlin and Griffith’s Cristiano Nascimben - were sent from the field and will face the judiciary.

Final score: Hay 10 (Tries: Zane Gash, Shaun Aylett. Goal: Ryan Gash) Griffith 38.

The first-grade match was equally fast-paced and it was the home side who showed the pace. Again, Hay was short on players, eight reserve grade players backed up to also play first-grade. Shaun Aylett played this third match of the weekend, and Zane Gash, James McLean, Thomas Fixter, Jack Stark, Jack Morrison, John Weymouth and Jack Miller all stepped up to bolster coach Ben Taylor’s ranks.

Miller was injured in the opening moments of the game and did not take any further part of the game.

Griffith scored first despite a valiant chase down by Rex Malanicagi, and the home side went on to score 30 unanswered points in the first half.

The ‘Tahs were not afraid to spread the ball quickly across the line, but the Crighton trio – Toby, Jock and Hugh – proved tough opponents.

Powerful running by Aylett saw him cross the heavily defended try line to post Hay’s first points, as did Taylor, on the back of great work by Malanicagi.

Final score: Hay 10 (Tries: Shaun Aylett, Ben Taylor. Goal: Ben Taylor) Griffith 48.

Gallery images: The Riverine Grazier/Krista Schade