Cover Photo: Krak’d Lens
Tallon Smith
The Forbes Magpies turned a narrow half time deficit into a statement win after emerging from Jock Colley Field with a 32-18 victory over Parkes in the club’s annual long weekend game on Sunday.
Looking to respond after being on the wrong end of a 40-10 scoreline against Bathurst St Patrick’s a week ago, the Magpies overcame a slow start, crossing for four second half tries to one to set up the 14-point win.
After making too many mistakes in the first half, Forbes coach Cameron Greenhalgh said the side responded to his half time address, with a greater share of possession leading to points for the visitors.
“We kept on turning over cheap ball, penalties were against us, and just the weight of possession that Parkes had, we had to defend for long periods of time, and it sapped our attack,” he said.
“Half time was pretty much about making less mistakes and hanging onto the footy.
“I knew we would be right once we got our fair share of footy, and that happened and we had a little bit of a purple patch there in the second half where we put some points on.”
After a tense opening saw neither team able to break the deadlock, the Spacemen opened the scoring through Billy Simpson in the 23rd minute to lead 6-0, before Charlie Lennon hit back for the Magpies soon after.
Forbes then took the lead 10-6 when Farren Lamb made a break down the right touchline, and linked with Zeke Hartwig, before the Spacemen reclaimed a 12-10 advantage when Junior Igila collected a Matthew Wauwe grubber in the shadows of half time.
The contest turned after the break, with Chad Porter’s 54th minute try the first of three in 14 minutes for the Magpies, with a Nick Greenhalgh kick connecting with a leaping Jackson Brien before Max Hartwig raced away to score under the posts.
Lamb then put the icing on the cake with eight minutes remaining, before winger Brendan Bigam crossed for a late consolation try for the Spacemen to leave the final margin at 14.
Reflecting on the improved showing after the break, Greenhalgh said a pair of interchange players stood out amongst a better team performance.
“I thought Jake Grace got on and changed the game a little bit, and young Max Hartwig coming on at nine too lit us up a bit,” he said.
“It was a rounded sort of effort, I thought in the middle was where we were going to get them a little bit and we probably did, probably loosened them up a little bit around the middle when Max came on.
“Once we all clicked, we went really well.”
The telling moment of the match came in the 68th minute, when Max Hartwig scooted out of dummy half and weaved his way on a path to a try underneath the posts that opened up a three-score lead and put the result beyond doubt.
Greenhalgh said the interchange hooker has been making the most of a return to his familiar role after starting the season in the backline.
“Max is very strong and quick and he started at the start of the year at fullback and on the wing, and he is a natural hooker,” he said.
“We just tried to give him a crack somewhere in the starting side, so I think maybe moving back into the nine where he plays his best football, if you are lazy and get a quick play-the-ball, he will make you pay, and he did that.”
Forbes and Parkes will enjoy a bye when other sides play this coming weekend, with Orange Hawks to host Lithgow on Saturday, before Dubbo CYMS tackle Nyngan, Dubbo Macquarie travels to Wellington, Orange CYMS face Mudgee and Bathurst St Pats take on Bathurst Panthers in a cross-town derby on Sunday.
The Peter McDonald Premiership ladder is as follows: Dubbo CYMS 14, Mudgee 13, Forbes 13, Orange CYMS 10, Orange Hawks 7, Dubbo Macquarie 7, Bathurst Panthers 6, Lithgow Workies 6, Nyngan 4, Bathurst St Pats 4, Parkes 2, Wellington 0.
