The Yass Magpies have had another mixed week of results, with wins to the KFS ladies and Senior Reserves but losses to the First Grade and Under 19’s. The former of which went down emphatically to the Belconnen United Sharks 44-22.
“We were down 18-0 after about 20 minutes,” said First Grade Coach Cameron Hardy.
“We knew exactly what they were going to do and we trained, and trained, and trained for it. It’s good when you get your homework right but it’s another thing to actually put the homework on the paddock. We knew what they were going to do and we couldn’t stop them.”
“They rolled us up the middle as we thought they would and they did it well. We have got a young group but take nothing away from them. They’ve got a massive pack the Sharks and they find their front well. If you don’t control tackle one and two, you’re on your back foot,” he said.
Outside of that initial 20 minute period, the game was a relatively even contest. However, it was again unforced errors from the Magpies that prevented them from making inroads on the Sharks lead.
“I had no doubt we could score the points and we started working and got some points back but it’s just mistakes again. Coming out of your own half and we’ve defended them well, and we throw a forward pass on the second play from dummy half which puts them attacking 20 out.”
“It’s stuff like that, that’s disappointing more than anything,” said Hardy.
The coach highlighted the efforts of Kyle Danilczak and Noa Vanasi, who toiled all day.
Next week the Magpies take on West Belconnen at West Belconnen on Sunday, followed by the Gungahlin Bulls at Walker Park the week after.
“They’re two games we had in the bag where again discipline cost us,” said Hardy.
The loss widens the gap between the Magpies and the top four with the next two weeks against tough opposition, absolutely vital for their hopes of featuring in finals in 2021.
The KFS Ladies appear to have recovered from their mid-season lapse and have reasserted themselves as the dominant side of the Katrina Fanning Shield after a 22-16 win against the Tuggeranong Bushrangers.
“We got another win!” said KFS Coach Mike Inkster.
“Defensively we dropped off our game a little bit, otherwise it was a good result. It felt like we were in control for the duration of the game but defensively we dropped off our normal high standard.”
“It was formidable opposition. The Bushrangers have a strong side and they’ve got some very capable players and I guess we got a little complacent, and they ran it through the middle a couple of times. Otherwise, a good result and a good strong hit out which was what we needed,” he said.
While there was an even spread of contributors across the board, Inkster wanted to acknowledge the performance of two of the Magpies best.
“Shannon Wright was outstanding this week. She’s been consistent all year but on Saturday she ran herself into the ground.”
“Hayley Liddle. She’s new to the club and only just out of the junior ranks playing at lock and she’s like a missile when she tackles,” he said.
The Magpie Ladies enter their bye on top of the table three points clear of the second-placed Goulburn City Bulldogs, with their coach leaving an ominous warning for the rest of the competition.
“I can’t honestly say that we’ve all put it together at the same time yet, but it’s coming,” said Inkster.
In other Magpie news, the Reserves got a big 30 point win against the Belconnen Sharks, winning 36-6. Meanwhile, the Under 19’s lost to the Gungahlin Bulls 28-14, again with limited numbers.
Max O’Driscoll
