Just been to Leichardt to see our lower grades clash.In the Flegg the Magpies upset Balmain 40-18.I only seen the second half,but the Magpie forward pack seemed to be on top of their more fancied rivals with big Aaron Sweeney leading the charge.Magpie half Ryan Borg made numerous clean breaks leading to tries for the Pies,whilst Balmain seemed to be a bit lost with their regular half Jamie Nowland being required in Premier League.The Premier League game was a very sloppy game particularly after the Tigers George Azzi and the Magpies Ray Cashmere were both sent off for fighting in the 31st minute.Chris Heighington was also sin binned for 10 minutes.The Magpies had better field position and plenty of scoring shances in the first 20 minutes,but it was the Tigers who done all the scoring leading 22-0 capitalising on each clean break they made with long range tries.The Magpies constantly tried to get away miracle balls and paid the price with Balmains Luke Branighan responsible for setting up a brace of tries.Gray Viane was dragged off midway through the first half being held responsible for taking the wrong man in defence repeatedly.He was put back on playing second row and was back to his barnstorming best for the last 50 minutes of the game.The Magpies are a side very low on confidence and this was evident with their runners constantly having to reach for the pass.Bronson Harrison played in the second row for Balmain and after picking up an injury in the 1st half he came back on and proved a handfull every time he run the ball in the 2nd half.Greally was very dangerous and was one of the best players on the field although for mine the best player was far and away Luke Branighan.He is brilliant at creating space for his outside men and I sincerely hope the Wests Tigers contract him for next year!Bryce Gibbs and Chris Patterson were solid for the Magpies as was Heighington for the Tigers,but overall Ithaught the two forward packs cancelled each other out,just the better quality ball that the Balmain backs recieved being the main difference.Liam Fulton tried hard and pulled off a couple of big hits,but wasn`t at his normal best in attack and is pbviously a little low in confidence at the moment.Kieran Kerr was very ordinary.His passing game has gone right off the boil and selfishly ran the ball far to much in good attacking position.As a result of all this Dean Collis recieved little ball and when he did it was generally under pressure.I feel for him because he`s a much better player than what he`s being allowed to show.
It felt like a hurricane up in the stands with all of the air-swings. Where is Bob Cooper when you need him.
