It wasn't a perfect display on Sunday but the Forbes Magpies were still good enough when it mattered to down Bathurst St Pat's and claim a second successive Premiers Challenge under 18s victory.
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The Group 11 champions and their Group 10 counterparts did battle at Wellington's Kennard Park and the toll of two gruelling seasons, plus the celebrations that followed, showed in a match that entertained without reaching its full potential.
But, as was the case last year, strength up front and a man of the match out showing from hooker Campbell Woolnough helped the Magpies overcome a sluggish start and down Pat's 28-18.
Woolnough delivered a performance much like the one he did in last year's 34-18 win over Bathurst Panthers, scoring one try and being heavily involved in everything else the Magpies did well.
"It's good to have him in the team," Magpies skipper Tom Hopkins said of the NSW Country under 18s representative.
"He directs us around and runs the show and makes it easier for the halves as well."
The Bathurst side's captain and star man Nic Barlow was kept quiet throughout the game while Hopkins, Thomas Phillips, and Kyle McClenahan were among the best of the Magpies and continually kept their side moving forward.
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That allowed Woolnough to cause havoc from dummyhalf while also providing halves Thomas Toohey and Toby Hurford with plenty of time to direct play.
Toohey scored a double in the win, his second being one of the key moments in the game.
With half-time looming and the Group 10 side leading 12-10 the Magpies' defence lifted and a swarm of players pressured Saints and forced a loose ball on the fifth tackle.
Toohey was on hand to scoop it up and race 40m to score, and the halfback then threw a long ball to put winger Billie Dukes over right on half-time and give his side all the momentum.
Pat's hooker Jack O'Neill scored his second when going through some uncharacteristically soft Forbes defence early in the second half but tries to Magpies backs Zeke Hartwig and Connor Greenhalgh sealed victory.
"That was a tough game but the boys turned up, backing up from the grand final," Hopkins said.
"We were bit slow to start but I think the boys came to it around half-time and ran away with it a bit at the end."
With Pat's having celebrated at their end of season awards the night before the game coach Kevin Grimshaw wasn't getting too down after the game.
He was full of praise for the Magpies while adding the Premiers Challenge is a initiative to be embraced.
"I'm not disappointed. Forbes is a good side and my guys gave it their best but they weren't the best on the day," he said.
"That doesn't [awards night] matter. This was good and we love doing this.
"It's great. Full credit goes to Forbes, they've had a good year and I think we've had a good year too."
- FORBES MAGPIES 28 (Thomas Toohey 2, Campbell Woolnough, Billie Dukes, Zeke Hartwig, Connor Greenhalgh tries; Toohey, Kyle McClenahan goals) defeated BATHURST ST PAT'S 18 (Jack O'Neill 2, Noah Cooney tries; Tyler Colley 3 goals)
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
