Plenty of Positives to Come out of Narrow Loss for Picton Magpies                           22-4-08

Despite his side squandering a 20 to 6 lead, Picton Magpies coach Noel Woods said that there were more positives than negatives to come out of his side’s narrow 28 points to 26 loss to the Oakdale Workers at the Sid Sharpe Memorial Oval on Sunday in wet conditions.

In the second round of the first grade Group 6 competition, the Magpies tasted their first defeat of the year and it was certainly a game of two half’s where the Magpies took a comfortable 14 to 6 lead into the half time break via tries to Rob Chauvet, Josh Tailby, and Justin Miller. 10 minutes into the second half the Magpies extended their advantage to 20 points to 6 after a try and conversion to second rower Nathan Sutton, but from there things went downhill for the 2005 Group 6 premiers.

A stack of possession to Oakdale and some lost ball when they were coming out of their own half from Picton, allowed Oakdale to not only bridge the gap but take the lead at 63rd minute mark. Oakdale took the lead of the match for the first time 22 points to 20 lead after a try to prop David Lowe and then they were able to extend the gap even further with a try to fullback Matt McCauley at the 69th minute and the conversion took their lead to 28 points to 20.

Centre Chauvet picked up a loose ball when Oakdale had possession at the half mark and sprinted 50 metres to score for the Magpies and that brought the margin closer, 28 points to 26 in favour of Oakdale. Despite their best efforts and some desperate attacking plays in the dying minutes of the match, the Magpies fell short of a miracle recovery and the score finished at 28 points to 26.

Magpies first grade coach Woods was pleased with his side’s performance as they are still working combinations within his side and the fact that they lost hooker Matt Brinkworth late in the first half after he had injured himself after he had collided with the goal posts. The Magpies cause wasn’t helped along either when prop Daniel Bacon suffered an ankle injury in the early stages of the second half but stayed out on the field in a gallant effort up against his former club.

“I was very proud with the efforts of the team as there were a few things that didn’t work in our favour at crucial stages of the match and the fact that we gave Oakdale a stack of ball and you simply cannot do that with a side like Oakdale,” said Woods.

“Throughout various stages of the match we proved that we have plenty of strike power with tries scored by both our centres, five eighth, and second rower, and the loss of our hooker late in the second half didn’t help with our direction of play, but we battled on.

“The big positive to come out of the match was the fact that we are a few weeks away from being at full strength, but still managed to match it with a top 3 side such as Oakdale.”

In reserve grade the Luke Davies captained - coached Magpies won 36 to 22 over Oakdale. At the half time break the Magpies led 32 to 4, but in the second half Oakdale fought back and were able to bring some respectability into the final score. The Magpies will have to learn not to get complacent throughout the season, as they certainly turned off in the second half against Oakdale after what can best be described as a near perfect first half form the Magpies.

The under 18 a’s were to play the Mt. Annan Knights on Sunday at Jack Nash Oval but this match didn’t go ahead and will now be played at a later date due to representative commitments, while the under 18 b’s came up against the Narellan Jets at Sid Sharpe Memorial Oval and suffered a 32 points to 0 defeat.

With the ANZAC Day Long Weekend there will be no games played, and the Group 6 competition is to resume on Sunday, May 4 with the Magpies playing their first home game at Victoria Park when they face the Thirlmere Roosters in first grade, reserve grade, and under 18 a’s, while the under 18 b’s take on the Mittagong Lions at Mittagong Sportsground in the Southern Highlands.

To find out more about the Picton Magpies visit their official website: www.pictonmagpies.com.au

-ENDS RELEASE-

Picton Magpies media enquiries Daniel Powell – Redline Media

Phone: 0246 832 287

Mobile: 0432 126 210

Email: daniel@redlinemedia.com.au

Website: www.redlinemedia.com.au