Orange Hawks are on top of the Group 10 premier league ladder – just don’t tell captain-coach Willie Heta.
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The two blues’ nail-biting, two-point derby win over CYMS, coupled with Oberon finding form to down Bathurst Panthers 24-16, rocketed the in-form Hawks to the top of the premier league ladder on Sunday afternoon.
After just the one loss and a draw, Heta’s Hawks occupy top spot after seven rounds on 11 points, one point ahead of the super-impressive Cowra and Orange CYMS , the defending premiers remaining in the top three despite back-to-back losses.
Bathurst Panthers, on nine points, sit fourth while Oberon is in the top five for the first time this season, the Tigers sit fifth on eight points after two consecutive victories.
Past that, Bathurst St Pat’s and Mudgee both have six points while the competition is rounded out by Lithgow Workies and Blayney, both with four competition points. The latter celebrated its first victory since 2016 last weekend.
Nearing the turning point of the season, the race for finals spots is fierce and as such Heta says the ladder-leading Hawks will be taking things one week at a time, a mantra they’ve held all season so far to try and keep a lid on their monumental start.
“You can’t really predict or nail it down to who’s been the more dominant side,” Heta said after Hawks’ 42-40 thriller with CYMS.
“We're not looking that far ahead … I won’t even mention it to the lads.
“We’ll just work on next week. But it’s a good position to be in at this point in the season.”
Heta’s vigilance is warranted, especially when you look further down the ladder.
St Pat’s started the year with three wins from as many rounds, but a month without a victory has plummeted Greg Behan’s outfit to sixth position.
Injury has played a part in St Pat’s recent run of defeats though, and with Nathan Potts (jaw) and Brodie Christopherson (knee) both on the sideline last Sunday Hawks know complacency can’t be afforded.
“We’ll just take a step back, look around, see the injuries and take it as it comes,” Heta said.
“Results are speaking for themselves at the moment. It’s so close.”
Incredibly Hawks’ first division side is also on top of its ladder, a 36-6 triumph over CYMS sitting alongside an 18-12 victory in the league tag derby, both acting as preludes to the thrilling premier league triumph last weekend.
CYMS got the chocolates in the under 18s, the defending premiers dominant in a comprehensive 46-6 victory at Wade Park.