Tallon Smith

The West Wyalong Mallee Chicks remain just half a game off the lead of the Group 20 League Tag premiership after a 58-4 thrashing of Hay at Ron Crowe Oval on Sunday.

Led by a hat-trick to Ava Lemon, the Mallee Chicks ran in 10 tries to one to dominate the clash, with Olivia Downey and Caitlin Kelly joining Lemon as multiple try scorers on the day with doubles of their own.

West Wyalong RLFC President Matt Goodwin said that the margin was somewhat of a surprise given that Hay are also finals bound in the competition.

“Hay were only one below them, so I thought it was going to be a really tight game,” he said.

“Hay scored first, and then our girls just put their foot down.

“One thing led to another, and before you knew it, it was I think about 24-4 at half time, and then the final score 58-4. 

“So it was a bit of a surprise, but I mean, Hay didn’t play that bad, our girls just played extremely well.

“If they can keep that up right through to the end of the competition into the finals it’ll be great.”

Featuring speed across the paddock, the Mallee Chicks have proven to be a dangerous team when given the chance to attack, with Goodwin quick to name a few of the stars which contributed to the massive win on Sunday.

“Ava [Lemon] scored two tries from the kickoff, they kicked it to her and she just sort of dodged around, stood them up and then just split them,” he said.

“She did it twice in row and then they had to kick it somewhere else.

“The Downey girls, they’re great, they’re two twins and they’re great players, and Caitlin Kelly, of course, the co-captain-coach.

“Those players, they all have great speed, and they’re good on their feet.

“A couple of times they came up and [Hay players] were coming across to them and they just went back on the inside really quickly.

“It was good to watch.”

Playing after their League Tag side’s win, the Mallee Men men suffered another big loss, going down to a desperate Hay team 66-6 as the Magpies regained fifth spot in their own battle with Yenda, Yanco and the Black and Whites for finals.

Adding to the disappointment was the loss of inspirational captain-coach Braiden Jones to an ankle injury in the first half.

However, despite the tough season the senior side is having, Goodwin said he is excited about the finals campaign ahead for the club’s Under 18s and League Tag outfits.

“The under 18s are in the top five,” he said.

“We’ve got to go to Lake [Cargelligo] this weekend and they have actually got three games in the next three weeks, which is good.

“And the girls, it’s good to have them in the top three because they got to the grand final last year and got beat, and the year before they got to the grand final and got beat. 

“So maybe it’ll be third time lucky.”

West Wyalong take on the TLU Sharks in Lake Cargelligo on Sunday, with the Under 18s and League Tag to kick off the day followed by the First Grade clash at 2:35pm.