ALTHOUGH Orange Hawks were handed their 10th loss of the Group 10 premier league season by Oberon on Saturday, two blues captain coach Jason Gangaram was almost jovial considering his side’s performance – for 40 minutes at least.
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In the opening half Hawks stuck it to the Tigers, even looking the better side for plenty of it, and only trailed 12-4 at the half-time break.
The two blues did fall away in the second period, ultimately losing out 34-10.
“A bit more luck our way in that second half and it could’ve been a different story, but it was a really good performance from our guys,” Gangaram said.
“I think it was the best half of football we’ve played. We dropped a bit of ball and only completed five of 12 sets, but it wasn’t as bad as that reads.
“We didn’t even notice in fact, because of how well we thought we were playing.
“Guys were hitting and sticking in defence, we slowed the play the ball down well. Basically we did everything we’ve been talking about.
“Oberon did run away with in the end but we really stuck it to them.’
With Matt and George Rose absent the job was made tougher for the Tigers, but they still led by eight points at the break thanks to unconverted tries to Josh Rivett, Blake Fitzpatrick and Jackson Brien – the latter is in the middle of a breakout year.
Viane Falaniko, one of Hawks’ best, crossed for his side in the opening period. It also went unconverted.
Hawks continued to hold the Tigers out for the opening stages of the second half however when the black and golds did eventually cross, it somewhat opened the floodgates. Oberon scored 22 points to Hawks’ six in the second half.
Riccie Arriola scored the first of Oberon’s five second half tries in the 54th minute, which Trent Rose converted.
Rose’s normally pinpoint radar was way off on Saturday – although it was windy – as he kicked one conversion from his eight attempts.
Blake Ryan, Fitzpatrick, Abel Faifua-Lefaoseu and Brenton Gibson all crossed in the second half as well, while Jedd Kennedy capped off another outstanding performance at the back with a 75th minute try, which Brodie Christopherson converted.
“There was a few things which didn’t go our way so as I said, a bit more luck and it might have been different,” Gangaram said.
“In that second half a number of factors came into it, the wind, the ground, match fitness, all that sort of thing.”
Gangaram highlighted Kennedy as one of his side’s best – the custodian has been outstanding all season – but reserved special praise for skipper Max Wolfson and hooker Adam Hamling.
“Maxy, he was just brilliant,” Gangaram said.
“Since he was given the captaincy when I got hurt he’s grown each week and has become a really good leader.
“He just never gives up. There was once of the weekend we put an ordinary grubber through and one of their players scooped it up and looked like he’d go the length.
“The last person you’d expect to chase him down is Maxy really, but there he was.
“And Hammo, he’s doing a great job. He isn’t much to look at in terms of size but I don’t think I’ve seen him miss a tackle yet.
“The boys all say his chat on the field is very good too.
“As long as they keep showing up for each other, which I think they will, there’s plenty of positives to take into these last couple of rounds.”
OBERON TIGERS 34 (Blake Fitzpatrick 2, Blake Ryan, Abel Faifua-Lefaoseu, Brenton Gibson, Riccie Arriola, Josh Rivett, Jackson Brien tries; Trent Rose goal) def ORANGE HAWKS 10 (Jedd Kennedy, Viane Falaniko tries; Brodie Christopherson goal)