Magpies swoop over Roosters in two grades - Group 20s rugby league season commences
Hay Magpies Shayne Kennedy (with ball) and James McLean were named among the best in the reserve grade win over Darlington Point Coleambally Roosters. Images; The Riverine Grazier / Krista Schade.
By Krista Schade
Hay Magpies hosted Darlington Point Coleambally (DPC) Roosters at Hay Park on Sunday, and came away with two of the three matches.
In arguably the biggest reserve grade team list in many seasons, rookie coach Zac O’Neill fronted up to the game with 20 players on rotation. The side was boosted by several players who have played past seasons with Ivanhoe in the ProTen competition.
O’Neill said after the match he was happy with Hay’s performance across the entire game, saying his team “didn’t switch off.”
“Very proud of the 19 men who stuck to game the plan and ground out a good win,” O’Neill said.
“We had a real handy side of experience players that executed the game plan and players found that extra ticker inside when we needed to find will to win.”
Shayne Kennedy and Jermaine Dixon combined well and were among the Magpies best, alongside forwards Jack Stark and Zane Gash.
DPC threatened on many occasions but Hay’s line held well. Following a scuffle DPC lost a player to the sin bin for ten minutes, allowing Hay to further dominate.
In a physical contest it was the Magpies who gelled best and were able to post the 16 point win, calling on the experience of James McLean and Weymouth, and the solid performances of Lote Clark, Conrad McGinty and Jacob Lund.
Final score: Hay 26 (Tries Shaun Aylett, Ethan Harris, Ryan Gash, John Weymouth, Jesse Thomson. Goals: Patty Miler 3) defeated DPC 10. Awards: Players player - Jermaine Dixon. Coaches - James McLean.
In the curtain raiser Hay’ league tag team started the game with a slow half and headed into the break down two points, with the score at 4 to 6.
Hannah Stewart’s attacking and kicking game again shone, and Larissa Sorensen backed up her solid performance at the pre-season Yanco 9s with another stellar hit out. Sorensen pulled off a sneaky intercept and raced off to post a well-deserved length-of-the-filed try under the posts.
The quality of the Hay junior club’s pathway was evident when Lily Plum made her senior debut and played without hesitation against older, more experienced opposition. Plum showed speed and agility and evaded the DPC opposition to gain valuable metres.
Newly crowned team captain Lily Weymouth directed the play well and Hay dominated the second half, keeping DPC scoreless and taking the round one win.
Final score: Hay 20 (Tries Hannah Stewart, Larissa Sorensen, Lily Weymouth, Karly Fisher. Goals Karly Fisher 2) defeated DPC 6. Awards: Players player - Larissa Sorensen. Coaches award - Sophie Curtis.
The first-grade match was a grinding affair, with no love lost between the two sides.
Hay posted two unanswered tries early in the game when Will Barnes crossed and Billy Fixter fought his way over the line, before handling errors gave DPC a run of possession. They hit back with two tries of their own before tempers flared and a scuffle broke out.
Powerful Jerry Balenawi posted a try late in the first half and Hay went into the break leading 16-12.
Fixter scored his second try to lift Hay eight points clear, however DPC applied the pressure and handling errors allowed them to claw their way back.
Despite solid defence by Jack Bolger, a screaming intercept by Hugh Crighton and calm direction from Ben Taylor, DPC piled on the points to overrun the Magpies.
Coach Chris Stewart said there were plenty of positives to take from the match, but will work at training to settle the error count.
“We had too many silly penalties and error, including two intercept tries we gave away,” Stewart said.
“Despite that, we were on track to win, but lost momentum when Hugh Crighton was sent off.”
Stewart named Hugh Crighton, Jock Crighton and hooker Will Barnes as his top three performing players.
Final score: Hay 20 (Tries Billy Fixter 2, Will Barnes, Jerry Balenawi. Goals Ben Taylor 2) Awards: Players Player - Hugh Crighton. Coaches award - Jock Crighton.
Hay next meets Yanco Wamoon Hawks at the Yanco Sportsground after the Easter general bye.
The Hawks sat out the first-grade competition for most of season 2024 but have recruited heavily and easily accounted for TLU Sharks in round one.
Other Group 20 results:
Yenda v Leeton
First grade: Leeton 33 defeated Yenda 32
Reserve grade: Yenda 38 defeated Leeton 0
League tag: Leeton 20 defeated Yenda 0
Under 18s: Leeton 22 defeated Yenda 10
Waratahs v Black & Whites
First grade: Griffith Waratahs 42 defeated Griffith Black & Whites 14
Reserve grade: Griffith Waratahs 16 defeated Griffith Black & Whites 16
Under 18s: Black & Whites 34 defeated Waratahs 20
TLU Sharks v Yanco Wamoon
First grade: Yanco Wamoon 34 defeated TLU Sharks 16
Reserve grade: TLU Sharks 40 defeated Yanco Wamoon 30
West Wyalong had the bye
Friday night Under 16s results
Teams gathered at Yanco Sportsground to contest round one of the 2025 Aub Farrell under 16s competition.
Griffith Black & Whites 42 defeated Griffith Waratahs 22
Yenda Blueheelers 26 defeated Leeton Greens 22
Narrandera Lizards 28 defeated TLU Sharks 24
Yanco Hawks had the bye
