Hay Magpies Karly Fisher leads Group 20 competition pointscore tally

Hay’s Karly Fisher (with ball) leads the Group 20 league tag pointscoring tally by a widening margin. Images: The Riverine Grazier / Krista Schade.

BY KRISTA SCHADE

In 2021 I wrote an editorial comment regarding Group 20, for which Hay Magpies Rugby League Club received an official warning and a fine was imposed. The fine was suspended, pending no further breaches of the Group’s polices.

For background, the correspondence referred to a story I wrote and was published in The Riverine Grazier, after the Group back flipped on a decision to allow Hay Magpies to play in reserve grade.

Without notice, Hay was advised they would be required to move into first grade or give up the chance to play reserve grade finals. Then Magpies president Jack Byrnes appealed the decision to NSW Rugby League and it was overturned.

Under the heading ‘opinion piece’ I wrote “… before the Group’s apathy and lack of support for smaller communities kills the senior game for good,” and for that, the Group punished the local Hay club.

In 2021 I was not part of the Magpies committee and am not part of the committee today.

The leadership of Group 20 has since changed, so it will be interesting to see if there is a similar reaction to the opinions on the games offered by me, in this editorial.

Round 14 match report

Hay Magpies travelled to Wade Park on Sunday to meet Yenda Blueheelers in three grades.

The day started well for Hay, with the league tag side playing out an impressive 28-point win over the home side.

Wendy Gonevulavula posted a hat-trick of tries, using her speed and agility to outpace Yenda. She opened the scoring in the first minute of the game, following her own chip kick across the tryline.

Sophie Curtis was solid all game, gaining valuable metres and Zoe McRae was punishing in defence, tagging Yenda players before they had a chance to attack. Her efforts were rewarded with a four-pointer when she crossed to score.

Hay built on a 16 to nil half-time scoreline keeping Yenda scoreless until the final minutes of the game. Rhi Moore crossed before Noa Magliocchetti proved too strong and scored her first-ever try for Hay.

The win moves Hay into third position on the ladder on 22 points, equal with Leeton and one point behind leaders Black & Whites. Karly Fisher continues to pull clear of the rest of the competition, leading the season point scoring tally.

Final score: Hay (Tries Wendy Gonevulavula 3, Zoe McRae, Rhi Moore, Noa Magliocchetti. Goals Karly Fisher 4) Yenda 4.

Somin Parr’s solid performance was rewarded with a try.

The first-grade side endured another tough loss in a game littered with unpenalised offside infringements and inconsistent rulings for high tackles.

“It was a tough loss for us,” coach Chris Stewart said after the game.

“I asked the boys to go out there and make and effort and attitude in how we play and that’s what they did. A few 50/50 calls went against us and we couldn’t hold on.”

I suggested to Stewart that his summing up of the refereeing was on the kind side, compared to what sideline commentators saw during the game, but his response was positive.

“We can either mope around or keep moving forward, hoping for a fair go next weekend.

“The ladder is so tight between fifth, sixth and seventh and it leaves us just two points out of the top five, so our season rests against Black & Whites this Sunday at home.

“I hope we have a big crowd there to help us over the line.”

The Riverine Grazier contacted the Group 20 Referees Association and NSW Rugby League’s media centre on Sunday evening, requesting information on how matches and referees performances are reviewed, but at time of publishing, no response had been received.

Hosts Yenda scored first but Hay hit back when Hugh Crighton scored. Crighton played in the fullback position, but it did not slow his involvement in the game and he attacked and defended with his usual vigour.

Despite great forward momentum from Brad Pocock, Yenda scored their second on the same wing, before posting a third to pull ahead.

A penalty to Hay on half-time saw Ben Taylor kick a penalty goal, to go into the break trailing by four.

Taylor’s accuracy on the boot was a vital part of the Magpies staying within spitting distance of the win, whereas Yenda was repeated let down, and their conversion points went begging.

A passage of play between Toby Whitehead and Pocock allowed Ben Arandt to use his strength to score, as Simon Parr and Zac O’Neill delivered stinging defensive punishment of the Blueheelers.

Yenda scored next but a break by Rez Anare into the hands of Kynan Headon and onto Whitehead sent him sailing over the tryline.

Yenda attacked but the Hay line held and Parr’s efforts were rewarded when he scored under the posts to nudge Hay ahead for the first time.

The two-point lead to Hay was not enough buffer, when Yenda scored in the final five minutes, to take the win by four.

Stewart named Will Barnes, Shaun Aylett and Ben Arandt as his top three players.

Final score: Hay 24 (Tries Hugh Crighton, Ben Arandt, Toby Whitehead, Simon Parr. Goals: Ben Taylor 4) Yenda 28.

Awards: Will Barnes (player’s player) Shaun Aylett (coaches award)

Forward Luke William was among the best on the field in the reserve grade match.

The reserve grade game started disappointingly for Hay, who were only able to field a 12-man side for the match. In a season where they lead the competition, the decision by numerous players to sit out the game due to ProTen finals is baffling.

Hay was also without the services of Lloyd Schulz and Patty Miller (injured) and James McLean (unavailable) which left big shoes to fill.

The 12 players who did play did so with skill and determination.

“What an effort from 12 men. They didn’t flog us - It could have been 40 or 50 to nil,” coach Zac O’Neill said.

“They had 20 players and we had 12 so I’m real proud. When we held the ball we were really good.”

Zane Gash was again fearless and led from the front, alongside fellow forwards powerhouse Luke William.

Jesse Thompson played out the match with an injury that later turned out to be a broken collar bone, meaning he will sit the rest out what has been a great season for the winger.

He and Lote Clark ran down break away Yenda attackers and saved several tries.

Fatigue set in for the Hay outfit in the second half, yet they refused to concede; Aiden Leak stopped a rampaging Blueheeler in his tracks, then pulled him from the field to slow their roll.

A scuffle broke out with as the game time wound down, after O’Neill was swung around by the neck, and Hay lost him to the sinbin for his, yet received the penalty.

No video was available to attempt to work out the infringement that led to O’Neill’s sin-binning.

With 11 players left on the field, the intensity lifted and Gash crossed for his third and Hay’s final try.

Final score: Hay 20 (Tries Zane Gash 3, Luke William. Goals Ryan Gash 2) Yenda 36.

Awards: Player’s player Zane Gash. Coaches award Billy Fixter.

Hay will host Griffith Black & Whites at Hay Park on Sunday, with games from noon.