It’s been approximately 8,395 days since these two teams took to the field in the ‘battle for the ashes’, and it was worth the wait.
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After a torrid first half that saw more big hits than an AC/DC album, Narromine were able to take the ascendancy and run away with it late to claim a memorable 47-3 victory over the Trangie Tigers.
Buoyed by a large and vocal home crowd the Tigers came out of the blocks strongly and were winning the early collisions close to the ruck. The pace of the game was a step up from anything both teams had encountered in their first month and a half of the season and with scores still locked at nil-all after 20 minutes, it was a case of who would blink first.
The spark the Gorillas needed came from the hard working Sam McLeod who was able to pick up from the back of a ruck 50 metres out and burst through. Stepping past the fullback with ease and showing incredible pace to beat the Tigers cover defence, he dived across for Narromine’s first try of the day. Henry Buttsworth with the conversion and the score was 7-0.
Some good field position for the Tigers and some ill-discipline from the Gorillas allowed them to kick a penalty goal and narrow the gap to 7-3.
On the stroke of half time, Trangie decided to chance their arm from their own try line which backfired like an old Datsun. The ball was spilt by the fullback and the ever present Billy Browning was on hand to dive on the loose pill and extend the lead to 14-3 at the break.
The Gorillas stepped up the pressure again in the second half with the emphasis on getting the ball wide earlier. This paid dividends almost immediately when a deft pass from fly-half George Hancock put centre Tim Gainsford through a yawning gap. Gainsford was then able to draw the fullback and connect with his centre partner Browning who was in again for his second try in five minutes. 19-3.
Narromine smelt blood in the water and decided to cut loose part of their formidable bench, with Luke Brown, Lachie McCutcheon and Ryan Pratten taking the field. The fresh legs enabled the Gorillas to lift another gear and the tiring Tigers were struggling to go with them. Brown crossed for his first try form the back of a well worked rolling maul, and was in again for his second moments later when he linked up with Hancock who was involved in everything.
Trangie weren’t going away and the hits kept coming with number eight John Ellis and flanker Samuel Renneberg putting in a claim to be featured on the next So Fresh: Hits of Winter album.
In the final ten minutes the Gorillas were full of running and seemed to be finding more holes on the edges than a piece of swiss cheese. Flanker Tim Allworth who had a tremendous game crossed out wide, before gifting a try to substitute Mick Harris after he’d backed up a break from Charlie MacInnes on the stroke of full time. A splendid kicking display from Buttsworth saw him slot 6 from 7 conversion attempts and the final score read 47-3 to the Gorillas.
This was the first of two legs in the battle for the ashes with the return leg to be played at Cale Oval, Narromine on the 1st of July. This will also be the Gorillas Ladies day so mark it in your diaries.
Best & Fairest points went to; 3 Tim Allworth (players player), 2 George Hancock, 1 Bill Rybak, Charlie Tuck & Billy Browning.
This Saturday the Gorillas return home to play against the Wellington Redbacks which is also the clubs sponsors day.