The Boars reversed a worrying season-long trend on Sunday by scoring first after Rising Star Award favourite Linden Peckham scorched down the sideline in the 3rd minute to set the Boars on attack. A few play-the-balls later, Grant Woods charged over for a try and with ace gaol kicker Derrick Craigie converting the Boars led 6-0 after 5 mins of play.
The Hawks then showed the crowd why they are sitting in equal second position on the TRL ladder with some outstanding attacking football from their super slick backline that netted them 5 tries to take a commanding 26-6 lead in the 35th minute.
The Boars added some respectability to the score just prior to half-time when the effervescent Clyde Hickling glided over for a try after great lead up work from Jordan Jenkins and Fred Walker to take the score to 26-12 as the two teams headed for the sanctuary of the sheds for a well earned half-time break.
A resurgent Boars outfit started the second half on fire and former TRL player of the year, Fred Walker single-handedly had the Boars back in the game after he notched a brace of tries in 10 mins to have the home side trailing 26-24 in the 55th minute.
Actually, to say “single-handedly” would be a gross injustice to the likes of Linden Peckham, who seared down the sideline on two occasions to put the Boars in try-scoring positions, and Jordan Jenkins, Craig McKenzie, Kerry-John Haines and Matthew Lloyd, who’s interchange of passes to set up the tries were a delight to the optic nerve and if the Boars could sustain this style of football for a full 80 minutes they would find themselves much higher on the TRL ladder than where they currently sit.
A bad handling error by the Boars in the 60th minute gave the Hawks possession close to their try-line and they threw the ball wide and scored in the corner to again take control of the match. A further three tries to the Hawks in the final 15 mins sealed them the two competition points and the only highlight for the Boars fans on the hill was a sensational try on the final siren to Goondiwindi man-of-the-match Jake McCosker after good lead-up work by Linden Peckham (again), Clyde Hickling and Alexander Sprott to take the final score to 50-28 to the Gatton Hawks.
Best for Goondiwindi were Michael “Julia” Offerdahl who kept the Boars moving forward with some laborious runs, Kedron Gunn, Callum Skinner and Reg McIntosh tried hard all day and did not shirk their duties and the dynamic duo of Matthew Lloyd and Jake McCosker were simply out-standing in both attack and defence.
In the backs, young tyros Linden Peckham, who surely must be attracting offers from the NRL, and Tyrone Hennessy displayed enough skill to suggest that they will become regular first graders for years to come.
The Boars play Pittsworth away this weekend and are at home against Oakey for their final home match of the season on August 22.
Reserve Grade
The “Reggies” maintained 4th position in the top 5 of the TRL ladder with a come from behind win against 3rd placed Gatton 30-22 at Gilbert Oval on Sunday.
The “Reggies” had posted two tries by the 20th minute, the first to Alexander Sprott after a great break by Will McIntosh and the second an absolute ripper to speedster Harold “Buddy” Brown to lead 12-0.
For the next half an hour it was one-way traffic to the Hawks who gave the “Reggies” a footballing lesson with solid defence and enterprising attack that netted them four tries and in the 55th minute the Boars found themselves down 22-12.
Fortunately for the Boars, their superior fitness and cohesive ball control, honed through hours of practicing drills on the training paddock, paid dividends and they came home with a wet sail to cross three times before games end to run out 30-22 victors with a lot more left in the tank.
Under 18
It has taken all season but at last the young Boars showed the Gilbert Oval fans a glimpse of their true potential with a gallant effort to come from behind and snatch a draw on the hooter against Gatton on Sunday.
Down 10-0 after 10 mins it seemed more of the same from the Boars until Tyrone Hennessy and resident speedster Lance McGrady scored to narrow the margin to 10-8 before Gatton crossed just before half-time to lead 14-8 at the break.
The Hawks shot away to a commanding 26-12 lead by the 35th minute before the young Boars mounted a comeback of Biblical proportions.
Tries to Dexter Hutt (this kid will play NRL football), Michael Dennison and Lance McGrady had the Boars trailing 26-20 with a minute to play and the Boars on the attack from the kickoff.
The young Boars showed maturity beyond their years by working their way downfield in the first four tackles before throwing the ball wide and scorching downfield before an inside pass found Linden Peckham in support and he touched down under the sticks to rapturous applause from the ecstatic fans on the hill and he duly converted to level the scores at 26-26.
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