Last Saturday saw both Boorowa rugby league teams begin the day with high hopes of upsetting the more fancied Harden Hawks in the George Tooke league and League Tag competitions.
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However by day’s end, both teams had been given a reality check that it’s going to be a tough few weeks ahead if they are to be Premiership contenders.
The Rovers held slim hopes of finishing in a top three spot with a win over the Hawks, however such hopes were dashed and they are now resigned to a minor semi final birth at best. They will now focus on gaining some much needed confidence before the big games in August.
Boorowa began the match on Saturday with plenty of determination and it was only a freakish intercept of a Steven Death chip kick that saw the Hawks post first points for a 6-0 lead.
Boorowa struck back minutes later when Daniel Roberts scored a converted try to make it 6-6.
Unfortunately the high error rate that has plagued the team in recent weeks returned midway through the half and Harden scored two quick converted tries to lead 18-6.
Then on the stroke of halftime, Harden drove a dagger through the heart of the Rovers, scoring a soft try from a Boorowa line drop out as the halftime siren sounded to make the score 24-6. It was a wound from which Boorowa would never recover.
Despite being down by three converted tries, Boorowa came our firing early in the second half playing the enterprising football that they are capable of producing .
After just three minutes, Rovers super centre Aaron Burgess took an intercept to race away and score a converted try.
Just minutes later, Trent Garrett drilled a massive 40/20 kick to put The Rovers on the attack again.
Some clever work saw Mick Hinds cross to make it 24-16. It appeared as though Boorowa were coming home with a wet sail before midway through the second half, Harden scored through their halfback for a 28-16 lead.
Harden’s veteran hooker Luke Brown, who had created headaches for Boorowa all day, was next to score and when Carl Johnson scored in the 24th minute, the lead became out of reach for the Rovers at 40-16.
Mark Veness scored the next try for the Rovers to make it 40-22 as the defences of both teams wilted seeing a final score line of 52-22 to the Hawks.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the Rovers as they did show glimpses of the enterprising football they are capable of but there’s plenty of work to be done in the remaining games of the regular season.
The best for Boorowa was Trent Garrett who’s kicking game was particularly impressive. Alex Stewart was outstanding again being a handful for the Harden forward pack and taking out the Players Player award whilst Daniel Roberts led by example all day.
In the first game of the day, the Roverettes were ambushed by the Harden Hawkettes who were devastating in a 56-0 romp over the locals.
It took just four minutes for Harden to score their first try which they followed with five more before half time and a 34-0 lead.
To their credit the local girls didn’t throw in the towel after the break and although Harden added another four tries, the damage could have been worse if not for a committed Boorowa team.
Some of the tries from the undefeated Hawkettes were very entertaining and it will take a very good team in the final series to stop them.
Best for the locals were Amanda Noakes supported Theresa Campbell who took out the players’ player award.
In the Youth league last weekend, the combined Boorowa/Harden team continues to impress with a 36-22 win over the Tuggeranong Bushrangers last Saturday.
They now find themselves in second position on the ladder, some three points clear of third placed Crookwell. Their next assignment is the North Canberra Bears.
This weekend it dosent get any easier for Boorowa as both the Rovers and Roverettes have tough matches this weekend against the North Canberra Bears.
The Rovers will be looking to make a statement that they are still a genuine Premiership contender when they take on the competition leaders. Meanwhile the Bears have plenty to play for themselves as they look to win the minor Premiership.
The Roverettes also face a tough assignment as their finals campaign hangs in the balance.
Currently North Canberra sit in fifth spot on 18 points as does Gunning. Boorowa sits just one point behind on 17 points and can move back into the top five with a victory. A loss, whilst not season ending, would make it very hard for the locals.
With the Combined Boorowa/Harden youth league team kicking off a triple header at noon, the Boorowa Showground is the place to be on Saturday for all your rugby league action.