DESPITE being without some key personnel Macleay Valley were too fast and too skilled for Forster-Tuncurry in the Group Three Rugby League clash played in warm conditions at the Harry Elliott Oval at Tuncurry.
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The Mustangs won 32-16 but the final score flattered the home side. Macleay went into the game without the Blair brothers, but still had plenty of flair in attack. They led 28-12 at the break and increased this to 32-12 early in the second half. They clocked off with 20 minutes remaining, but didn't ever look like losing their advantage.
- The match officials came under fire from the vocal Forster-Tuncurry supporters throughout the match. However, it was porous defence and not poor refereeing that proved to be Forster's downfall, Macleay's first try summed up Forster's defensive woes in the first half.
Tall centre Dylan Adams took a tap kick after a Macleay penalty and stepped through a wall of defenders to open the scoring. Soon after Adams made it a double when he beat a tackle from a scrum win and raced 50 metres for a converted try.
The Hawks hit back when their best player, hooker Riley Glover raced out of dummy half and put second rower Luke Ross into a gap. Ross crashed over and Glover added the goal to reduce the margin to 10-6.
However, Macley dominated from there with captain Richie Roberts leading the charge. He worked his way through tissue-thin defence to score and the Mustangs added further tries to five-eighth Josef Barber and second rower Jesse Douglas. Halfback Tyeece Sines kicked two goals.
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Roberts had a powerful game for the winners, constantly driving into the Forster-Tuncurry defensive line while second rower Chris Piper also took plenty of stopping.
The Hawks were also reduced to 12 players when five-eighth Keda Moylan was give a 10 minute rest in the sin bin late in the first half after a protracted discussion with the referee.
Centre Beau Lowry gave the Hawks some hope just before halftime when he crashed over for a try and Glover added the extras.
Play meandered more than flowed in the second half. The Mustangs were also reduced to 12 players at one stage when Piper was give a 10 minute rest in the bin.
Both sides will have important games next week. Macleay and Wingham clash at Kempsey in the game of the round while the Hawks head to Taree on Sunday to tackle Taree City.
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