Tallon Smith
The Yanco-Wamoon Hawks have reclaimed top spot on the Group 20 ladder after securing a comfortable 30-8 victory over the Darlington Point-Coleambally Roosters at the Yanco Sportsground on Saturday.
Led by a double to second rower John Wharepapa-Rawiri, the Hawks emerged the better of the two sides from a grinding first half, with three quick tries before the break followed by three more in the second half sealing a return to the winners’ circle following last weekend’s draw against Leeton.
Yanco-Wamoon coach Kye Longford said he was happy with the way his side stayed in the early battle against a disciplined and determined DPC side.
“We knew that they were going to come over and look to do an ambush,” he said.
“Anyone with Benny Jeffery and Guy Thompson in their side, they are going to get their go-forward and punch around the ruck and then complete their sets with a good, decent kick, which is what they did.
“In that first half they completed at about 85, 86 percent, and it kept them in the game.
“We had to back ourselves, focus on our defence, and just not get frustrated.
“I think a few times there we didn’t get to run away with it, but again it’s all about being gritty and putting some back-to-back sets together.”
Photo Gallery: Yanco-Wamoon v DPC
After a scoreless opening half hour, it was Batitoa Teiora who opened the scoring for Yanco-Wamoon off a break made by halfback Shanon Bradbrook under the posts for a 6-0 advantage.
That triggered two further tries before half time, with back rower Wharepapa-Rawiri and winger Mesulame Navakayala extending the Hawks’ lead to 14-0 at the break.
The second half again started like the first, with a period of back and forth football, before Luke Anderson stepped his way over to score in the 55th minute, allowing the Hawks to again cross three times in six minutes, with Wharepapa-Rawiri’s second followed by another four-pointer to Caleb Atkinson.
The Roosters managed to score twice in the final 10 minutes, with Tom Fattore going over from dummy half and Jisharn Harrison collecting a bat back off a kick on full time, but ultimately the Hawks were too good, running out winners by 22 points.
Without a doubt the most dangerous player for the Hawks again was Wharepapa-Rawiri, whose two tries to bring his season tally to 24 in just 12 games so far in his first Group 20 campaign.
While he continues to be impressed with the star signing’s tackle-breaking ability, Longford said the challenge will be creating new plans on how to bring the damaging ball runner into the game as teams adapt to his style of play.
“I’d like to get a count of his tackle busts there, I think by the time he bumps off a few people he has probably got a little bit tired there and then finds it hard to find his front,” he said.
“He’s a destructive back rower, he’s got a great fend and that too, but I think a few teams are starting to work that out defensively, so I think it’s up to us to put a plan in place so we can help him be his best version, but then also so he can play footy he’s enjoying.”
Next up for the Hawks is a clash with the Griffith Waratah Tigers, who they replaced on the top of the table at the end of the round following the latter’s loss to Tullibigeal-Lakes United on Sunday.
With the fixture set to all but determine the minor premiership, Longford said his side is focused on preparing for the occasion and returning the favour for Waratahs’ 18-10 victory last time the sides met in round eight.
“This game is going to be our biggest, we are going to try to get up for it again, it’s a big game for our club at home, multicultural round, [and] we’ve got one to get back from them,” he said.
“We’re focusing on ourselves at the moment, we have got a couple of niggling injuries where we have had to bring a few ressies [up and] test our depth in the last few weeks.
“It’s all about getting our bodies right and getting set and primed for this match, and then getting up for it.
“They got the wood over us that first round, so we’re looking to get one back and kickstart our run into the finals.
“It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be physical, and we are going to prime ourselves for it.”
Meanwhile, the loss of representative stars Guy Thompson and Chaise Sergi to injuries either side of half time, in addition to the absence of playmaker Josh Veivers, proved major blows to the Roosters.
DPC co-coach Ben Jeffery said while it was a tough day at the office for his side against a “quality team”, he still believes the Roosters can finish the year on a good note.
“Today was a tough day, we had guys not turn up and we got more injuries out of the game, and that’s footy,” he said.
“Hopefully people turn up for the rest of the year and we can put a few games together, and just have a little bit of joy towards the end of the year and enjoy it a little bit.”
Despite the defeat, DPC remains in the finals race after West Wyalong fell to now fifth-placed Griffith Black and Whites at Solar Mad Stadium on Sunday.
The Roosters will face TLU, Hay and the Black and Whites in the three game run home following next weekend’s general bye.
The ladder is: Yanco-Wamoon (27 points), Griffith Waratahs (26), Tullibigeal-Lakes United (22), Leeton (21), Griffith Black and Whites (14), West Wyalong (14), Darlington Point-Coleambally (12), Yenda (8), Hay (6).
YANCO-WAMOON 30 (John Wharepapa-Rawiri 2, Batitoa Teiora, Mesulame Navakayala, Luke Anderson, Caleb Atkinson tries; Shanon Bradbrook 3 goals) DEFEATED DARLINGTON POINT-COLEAMBALLY 8 (Tom Fattore, Jisharn Harrison tries) at Yanco Sportsground, Saturday July 25.
