Photo: New Magpies Jone Tabiwalu and Moses Nasilasila
The Yass Magpies First Grade fell to the Gungahlin Bulls 18 – 16, while Reserve grade was defeated 46 – 14 last weekend on July 9, in Round 12 of the Blumers Lawyers Canberra Raiders Cup.
Yass was in the lead at halftime 10 – 4 and First Grade Coach Cam Hardy said the score line didn’t reflect the game.
Cam said there were some strong performers throughout the match but the Magpies gave up some cheap metres letting the Bulls into their end of the field.
“We had the game plan to win it and we were going really, really well,” he said. “Then we just did some silly things and gave them easy metres to get back up the field to allow them a chance to score unfortunately.”
The coach said new outside back Jone Tabiwalu played well scoring three tries for Yass. The young Fijian was signed in early June and debuted in the black and white in Round 9 this season.
Jone has an extensive playing resume with opportunities within the National Fiji Bati squads, including fixtures against Country and the Oceania Championships.
Cam said the match had some good performers, but some mistakes cost them.
“Just some silly mistakes that we didn’t have to make and it let [Gungahlin] get all the way back up the field.”
But Yass local Kyle Danilczack and half Josh Fattore both did well on Saturday.
Cam likened the Magpies season to Groundhog Day where they repeat similar mistakes and unforced errors but he said the team played well and he can’t fault their effort by the Magpies
This weekend the Magpies are up against the Goulburn City Bulldogs on July 16. Reserve Grade play at 1:20pm and First Grade at 3pm at Walker Park in Yass for Round 13 of the comp.
Cam said he was looking forward to the home game and hoped for favourable weather on the day.
“Goulburn are a formidable outfit,” he said. “We’re certainly on the up so it should be good game.”
Brianna O’Rourke
