Harden has sent a warning shot to its competitors with a double display of power against Bungendore to shoot to the top of the Leaguetag ladder.
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The Hawkettes played two games against the Tigerettes due to a washout at the start of June and wasted no time asserting their authority – avenging their narrow loss to their rival in last year’s grand final.
The rescheduled match ended in an 18-12 victory to the local side. The regular round fixture was more one-sided with the Leaguetag women keeping their opponents scoreless in a 22-0 whitewash.
Harden club president and Hawkettes coach Jason Pollard was pleased with his team’s performance.
“The halves Emma James and Jessica Doolan directed traffic with a great kicking game,” Pollard said.
“They slowed the other side down by kicking to touch. (The Tigerettes’) fullback is pretty handy – she was last year’s player of the year.”
Hawkettes fullback Grace Smith scored three tries over the two games, including two length-of-the-field efforts, earning her a players’ player nod.
FULL-TIME
HARDEN 18 (G Smith, G Butt, K Butt tries; E James 3 goals) d BUNGENDORE 12 (R Grocott 2 tries; L Pryor 2 goals)
HARDEN 22 (G Smith 2, E James, C Smith tries; G Murray 2, E James 1 goals) d BUNGENDORE 0 at Braidwood
George Tooke Shield
Harden made the trek to Braidwood at the weekend to take on the Bears in round 12.
The Hawks made the away game worth the effort, with a resounding 42-12 victory – cementing their place on the top of the George Tooke Shield table.
Harden president Jason Pollard said Hawks lock Luke Snedden was the star of the show, leading the way in defence.
Snedden picked up both man-of-the-match honours as well as the players’ player award.
“He was his usual self – great in defence,” Pollard said. “It was a good, tough game.”
He was well supported in a great team effort by hooker Luke Brown, who scored two tries, taking his season tally to 14 and keeping him in touch with the top tryscorers in the competition.
Halfback Nathan Schofield was perfect with the boot, kicking seven goals from as many attempts. He also kept the scorekeepers busy by crossing the tryline twice, taking his personal points tally to 22 points for the game.
The match wasn’t all smooth sailing for the Hawks, with one of their tryscorers, five-eighth Matt McLay, sent off early in the second half accused of dissent. It only seemed to kick the team into gear after being deadlocked at 12-all at half-time.
The team has been flying high all season and remains undefeated heading into this week’s bye.
The Hawks’ next assignment is against Gunning at home on Saturday, July 16. The day is the club’s sponsors day.
FULL-TIME
HARDEN 42 (N Schofield 2, L Brown 2, R Foreman, C James, M McLay tries; N Schofield 7 goals) d BRAIDWOOD 12 (B Woods, S McGlone tries; E Jenkins 2 goals)
NEXT GAME – Saturday, July 16 at McLean Oval at 3.15pm against Gunning Roos
Youth League
The young Harden side travelled to Greenway to take on ladder leaders Tuggeranong at the weekend.
The Hawks managed to come away from a top-of-the-table clash with a draw to keep second spot.
Five-eighth Will Stanley scored a try and was given man of the match for his efforts, while lock Chris Fredericks was rewarded players’ player for troubling the Bushrangers.
The team will take on Bungendore at home after a bye round this weekend.
FULL-TIME
HARDEN 18 (W Stanley, Z Pirie, M Veness, S Adam tries; H Bradford 1 goal) drew with TUGGERANONG 18 (J Davison, C Massen, L Ceissman, T Walker tires; M Irvin 1 goal)