The Magpies recorded their thirteenth straight victory with a gutsy 48 - 28 win over Guyra, despite missing six regulars from their starting line-up.
Props Dave Stanfield and Shad Bailey, Damian Doust, Jake Key, Will Newberry and Daniel Ferris all sat out the game but their replacements rose to the task and performed stoutly. At half-time Glen held a strong 30 - 12 advantage after a brilliant display from centre Joel Jackson who had a hand in four of Glen’s tries and saved a certain try with a magnificent tackle over the line.
Winger James Sheridan, who later moved to the pack and had a fine game, opened the scoring off a Jackson pass in the 6th minute and Sam Key slotted the extras with a great kick from the touchline. Five minutes later, Adrian Wadley charged onto a superb cutout pass from Jason Ferris to score in the opposite corner for a ten point lead.
Glen knocked on in their own quarter and Craig Hutton scored under the posts. Glen 10 - 6.
In the 22nd minute, lock Jamie Watts set up replacement winger Luke Whan for a try under the posts. Key surprisingly missed the conversion but Glen led 14 - 6 before Spuds hooker Luke Burey scored a smart dummy half try, converted by Corey Torrens, to narrow the advantage to just two points.
Jackson attacked strongly on the right side to send Whan streaking in out wide in the 30th minute. Then the impressive young centre made another break and kicked ahead for Watts and the lock regathered for the try in the 35th minute. Three minutes later, fullback Mark Muggleton and Jackson combined to send Watts in again. Key converted both tries and Glen had an eighteen point lead at the break.
Jackson charged onto the ball and broke a couple of tackles in the 44th minute to score near the posts and Glen led 36 - 12. But from then on, the Magpies got a bit carried away and seemed to be trying to score every time they got the ball. As a result, the coughed up possession on a regular basis and Guyra took advantage to score some good tries through Dan Vidler, Dan Sisson and Andy Blair and Glen led by just 36 - 28 with a quarter hour remaining.
Aaron Jones scored his thirtieth top grade try of the season in the 64th minute and Jackson returned after a lengthy spell on the bench to wrap up the scoring with three minutes remaining when he scored off Whan’s inside pass.
Long Jake Chard stepped up into the front row and had a superb game for Glen, running hard and tackling with plenty of vigour. Ferris’ passing game was spot-on and he created room for his outside backs to make long runs into Guyra territory. Key also had a fine game and Wadley impressed in his first top grade starting game. Muggleton was, as always, impressive at the back while Jones made some good runs and worked hard in defence.
Mitch Berridge’s passing from dummy half was crisp and he tackled strongly while Watts was again heavily involved. Tim Every’s defence was outstanding until he suffered a slight shoulder injury while Ben Creighton stepped up strongly and young Mark Mabbott had an impressive match.
Jackson, deservedly, won players’ player polling for an outstanding effort in attack and some telling tackles.
This Sunday, Sponsor’s day, Glen takes on second placed Tingha at Mead Park in three grades.
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