Magpies still unbeaten
Yolanda Miller was one of Hay’s best, in their win over Yenda on Sunday.
Hay Magpies league tag team continued their unbeaten run, winning their round five clash as against Yenda Blueheelers at Hay Park on Sunday. Both teams entered the field after a win last week, and both were keen to claim the two points for their own. On a soggy pitch Yenda hit out early, playing with gusto but Hay soon settled and turned around possession and after almost ten minutes of play Ellie Darlow scored the game’s first points. The try came on the back of Yolanda Miller’s recovery of the ball and line break, in what was her best showing of the season. Her speed was on display for the home town crowd and she was among the Magpies attacking best.
Yenda hit back with a try of their own to lock up the scores and Hay suffered a period of simple errors. Hay managed to keep Yenda away from their line, through sheer guts and solid line defence, but it was the Blueheelers who scored next, to take a four-point lead into the break. Cherokee Dixon was again impressive in defence.
Polly Lugsdin broke through the Yenda line to score, and was again a leader on the field. Tess Lugsdin was much improved and Ellie Darlow continues to shine as one of the teams’ senior players. Yolanda Miller was rewarded with a try in the final ten minutes of play, as her speed sent her sailing across the line. The Hay league tag side have a tough game ahead of them next weekend in Griffith, when they meet Black & Whites, in what is always a physical match. Hay will need to play a strategic, settled game and not be intimidated by the size of the Griffith side if they wish to keep their unblemished record. Final Score: Hay 14 (tries: Ellie Darlow, Polly Lugsdin, Yolanda Miller. Goal: Ellie Darlow) defeated Yenda 8. Awards: Player’s Player – Yolanda Miller; Coaches Award – Cherokee Dixon; Player of the Match – Yolanda Miller; Runner-up – Cherokee Dixon.
In the men’s game Hay met Yenda in a game marred by Magpies send-offs. On two occasions in the first half Hay was forced to play a man down, when first Simon Parr and Jermaine Dixon were sent to the sin bin for ten minutes, for seemingly innocuous infringements. Both players have hundreds of games – including representative honours – and it is just the second career send off for both of them. Regardless of the ruling Parr and Dixon had outstanding games; in particular Parr’s defensive effort was incredible. Tempers flared and at one point the referee sent a Yenda supporter back behind the fence, when sideline interaction threatened the continuation of the game.
Hay stood up well to the difficulties thrown at them but Yenda scored two unanswered tries in the first half. Zane Gash had a good game and his inclusion back in the side has added options for officials; Gash is equally at home in the lock and second row and continues to improve.
Also returning from injury was Thomas Lee, who played with the same determined solid style fans have come to expect from him. Alex Hussain again played well and the size and skill of Malcom Kitap was a welcome addition to the Hay line-up against some very big Blueheelers.
Despite trailing by 8 points coach James McLean’s half-time talk was measured. “You need to push hard,” he reminded the Magpies. “Your defence is good. You should be proud of your efforts.”
The second half was more brutal than the first as both sides threw themselves at each other in order to gain the upper hand. Yenda was eager for their first win of the season and crossed again, but Hay rose, as the Blueheelers inaccurate conversions kept them within the Magpies reach. Back from injury Tom Schiller sent a short chip in behind the Yenda line and followed it in at pace to score. The try was just part of Schiller’s incredible come-back game; defensively he shone, and also showed pace in attack. A Dixon line break had Hay on the trot, and the Magpies passed the ball quickly out to the safe hands of Ben Taylor, who finished the effort off with a try.
The wet boggy conditions of the field caused several handling errors and Yenda scored two quick tries to pull ahead. Toby Whitehead was again good at full-back, but also took the ball forward numerous times, despite the attention he garnered from Yenda. Hay refused to allow them to take the win unscathed and with less than a minute on the clock Hay sent the ball wide to Harley Hey who muscled across the line with his signature strength.
Final Score: Hay 18 (Tries: Tom Schiller, Ben Taylor, Harley Hey. Goals: Harley Hey (3)) defeated by Yenda 26.
Awards: Player’s Player – Toby Whitehead; Coaches Award – Zane Gash; Player of the Match – Tom Schiller; Runner-up – Simon Parr.
