Glen Innes’ A grade team scored a commanding 40 - 18 win over second placed Tingha. Extending their unbeaten run to ten.
The Magpies avenged their only defeat of the season in fine style, scoring nine tries.
There was plenty of ball movement during the early stages, but Glen got first points when Jason Ferris retrieved a loose pass and sent fullback Mark Muggleton on a nice break. Joel Jackson loomed up in support and cruised across for a simple try out wide. Glen 4 - 0.
Soon after, Damian Doust bounced across the line after a fine run but was penalized for a double movement. This was the first of three ‘no try’ rulings - the others against Jackson and Daniel Ferris - that had the large contingent of Magpie supporters howling in protest.
Tingha’s Nathan Blacklock put in a superb grubber for winger James Curtis to score in the corner and level the score. There were several average attempts at conversion during the day and goal-kicking was a low point throughout the tussle. Tingha landed just one from four attempts and Glen four out of nine - three to prop Shad Bailey, including one superb effort from the touchline late in the match.
Soon after Tingha’s try, Sam Key dragged Mandy Cutmore into touch and the former Narwan back came up swinging, provoking a melee involving most players. When order was restored, Cutmore was sin-binned. Tingha attacked for a lengthy period, almost camped in Glen’s territory, but once again the Magpie defence was resolute.
Daniel Ferris and Jackson combined well for a long run that almost brought a try. Then Jason Ferris made a lovely break and turned the ball inside to brother, Daniel, but the pass was spilt with a try on offer. Jason Ferris made two more nice breaks before throwing a dummy close to the line and slicing through for a try close to the posts. Glen 8 - 4.
But the Tigers weren’t going away and almost immediately Ray Craigie levelled the scores again. Following a long break by lock Jamie Watts, Jason Ferris was again to the fore, switching the direction of play to Aaron Jones who beat a couple of tacklers to score between the uprights. Daniel Ferris converted - Glen 14 - 8.
Eight minutes after the break, Daniel Ferris was ruled to have gone into touch before grounding the ball, but barely a minute later, left winger Will Newberry supported a break to scoot fifty metres for a four-pointer. Glen 18 - 8. Play was stopped to treat an injured Tingha player and immediately after the re-start, Jason Ferris grubbered ahead for Sam Key to pounce and score a well constructed try. Glen 22 - 8.
Tingha came back strongly and Jason Ferris was sin-binned for being offside close to the line. Fullback Will Gerard scored in the next play and landed a great conversion. Soon after, Tingha scored a fine eighty metre try to Cutmore and Glen led just 22 - 18.
Glen forced a hand error from Tingha and replacement forward Mark Mabbott made a fine break. Watts got the ball at dummy half about twenty metres out and darted away, beating several tacklers in a great individual effort to score a crucial try. Bailey added the extras and Glen led 28 - 18.
Ferris returned to the field and soon after Sam Key fooled the defence with a nice ‘in and away’ and scored near the corner. Bailey again converted. Glen 34 - 18.
Tingha forced a long pass that went astray and Jones was on hand to race seventy metres for his second try. Bailey was again on target and Glen reached their final score of 40 - 18.
Once again, Glen’s victory was based on a superb team effort with each player contributing to the victory. Their defence was again committed and hard-hitting across the ground with Watts’ work around the ruck error outstanding. Props Bailey and Dave Stanfield tackled well and made breaks through the centre hard to come by for Tingha, although hooker Paul Lietinger made some dangerous runs, especially early in the game.
Despite the outstanding team effort from all players, Jacob Key and Jason Ferris stood out for the Magpies. Key’s non-stop effort in attack and defence won him the plaudits of his peers in players’ player voting. Powerhouse running was the feature of his game. Meanwhile, Jason Ferris’ guile, creative passing and direction provided the springboard for many attacking plays and his darting runs opened up the defence on several occasions.
Glen is now firmly in place at the top of the table. A win over Uralla at Mead Park this Saturday would almost ensure the minor premiership.
M The Magpies play all four grades this Saturday at Mead Park. The current first place under 18s side kick off at 11am with the A grade clash to commence at 2:30pm.
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