By Tallon Smith

They may have won the second half 12-4, but ultimately a 22-0 half time deficit was what consigned the Hay Magpies to a 26-12 loss at home to local rivals the DPC Roosters yesterday.

The star-studded Roosters, whose no holds barred approach buying outside talent for a premiership tilt in 2023 has seen the club maintain their status as serious contenders, rampaged to their massive half time lead through tries to Kane Simpson, a double to Jonathan Sila and another to Guy Thompson, with fullback Josh Veivers kicking three from four to open up a 22 point lead at half time.

The Hay side fought much harder in the second half however, with tries to both Hugh and Jock Crighton keeping the Magpies in the contest. 

A vast improvement in defence saw Hay concede just four points in the second half, compared to 34 in their previous outing against Leeton.

But ultimately, the DPC side were too strong and a solitary second half try to Joe Peato capped off a 26-12 victory for the boys in red, white and blue, who now sit second behind Leeton on the Group 20 table.

Magpies Director of Coaching Neil-John Nisbet said while the loss was far from ideal, it was good to see the side remain competitive in what is a very top-heavy league.

“Our aim at the start of the season was to be competitive,” he said.

“I think we’ve realised that we are very competitive.”

Nisbet believes that the team is not far from adding to their solitary win so far this year.

“It was just a few silly errors in the first half,” he said of the difference between the sides.

The sixth-placed Magpies’ next task is to tackle the remaining member of Group 20’s ‘big three’ alongside Leeton and DPC, when they face Griffith Black and Whites at the EW Moore Oval in Griffith next Sunday. Following this, the club has a slightly easier run, facing fellow bottom four sides Yenda, Yanco and Lakes in their bid to make the Top 5.

League Tag

In the League Tag fixture, the Magpies and Roosters each scored two tries, but ultimately it was the boot of Roosters half Tanaiya Coe which saw the Darlington Point-Coleambally side come away with a 12-8 victory.

Adela Neal and Cheyenne Hurst both grabbed four pointers for the Magpies, whilst the DPC side’s tries were scored by Jordyn Johnstone and Ellen Frost.

The Magpies remain seventh on the table, a game clear of last placed Yanco, heading into what will be a tough fixture against the second placed Griffith Black and Whites.