The Glen Innes Magpies signaled their intentions to the rest of the Group 19 A grade competition after downing the ladder leaders Moree Boars.
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On Old Boys day, where both minor and senior league played, the Magpies clinched a tight, 28-26 win.
The home side were dealt a double blow prior to kick-off with both starting centres late withdrawals.
This forced a re-shuffle in the Magpies’ line-up but they managed to pull together for the triumph.
“Young Lachy Chard came straight from under 18s to A grade centre and he didn't look out of place at all,” Magpies captain-coach Nick Say said.
“The other centre was our backrower and I just had to move him out one but as I said, everyone did their jobs and it was an exceptional win.”
Say credited the side’s defence with being “exceptional.”
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“Our middle men, all our forwards defended well and they [Moree] only made a couple of linebreaks which was pleasing against those fellas because they have some really good forwards and a big pack,” he said.
Heading into round 10, the Moree Boars were leading the competition.
“We talked about that all week, and on Saturday, about sticking it to these top teams and giving them a run for their money,” Say said.
“We don't want to be there to make up the numbers, we don't want to just make the finals for the fun of it, we want to give it a real shake.”
The crowd for Old Boys day spurred the team on.
“It was a credit to Gav Peterson and the Old Boys committee for putting it on,” Say said.
“When we first got there, the crowd and all the Old Boys up on the hill – it felt like it was a final atmosphere.”
This Sunday will see the Magpies head to Armidale to take on a Rams team coming off a 94-12 thrashing at the hands of Moree Boomerangs.
Say and his side are aiming to continue their recent form.
“They are always a better side at home but we want to keep this momentum going now, we don't want just to get the win like that one on the weekend, we want to keep the foot down and start playing some exciting football again,” he said.
In the earlier grades, the Magpies league taggers fell 16-6 to the Boars.
“Our defence was good [but] Moree had a lot of ball and [our] attack was a bit all over the place,” coach David Willis said.
“We need to work on that over the next few weeks.”
An error-riddled performance by the Glen Innes under 18 team saw them finish with a 12-all draw.
Coach Gavin Peterson said the side’s defence was strong but they gave their opponents too much opportunity through sloppy attacking errors.
“Defence was pretty good from both teams, that probably shows in the score,” he said.
“A lot of drop ball, that was pretty much our downfall – we just couldn't control the ball again.”