THE North Haven Bowling Club sponsored Camden Haven Eagles Under 18’s Rugby League team earned a place in the 2012 Group 3 competition Grand Final with a hard fought win over Wingham at Regional Stadium on Sunday. The game was played in very hot conditions will be remembered by the many supporters who travelled to Port as one of the finest wins, for the Eagles, in recent history.
The game was played at a great pace from start to finish and was highlighted by rugged defence and free flowing attack from both teams. Each side created scoring chances but last ditch tackling denied many tries. Jake Lawrence opened the scoring for the Eagles with a typically hard running try, beating many defenders through sheer strength and determination. Tyren Trindall converted from the sideline and with seconds closing in on half time, Alex Pearce slotted a field goal to give the Eagles a 7 - 6 lead at the break.
Coach, Brett Farnsworth was happy with the effort of the players in the first half and impressed on them the need to respect possession and complete all their sets.
“The boys had the best of the first half, even though the score might not have indicated it. I wanted them to run some big forwards at the centre of the defence and then look to hit the edges of the ruck before moving the ball out wide, especially on the Tigers’ right side.”
The second half mirrored the first and both sides were guilty of trying to push passes and missing crucial tackles in defence.The Tigers took advantage of some Eagles’ defensive lapses and skipped away to a 12 - 7 lead before Jahbe Latham grabbed the ball and scored one of the best solo tries this year as he beat defender after defender to plant the ball over the line to give Trindall an easy conversion. Eagles 13, Tigers 12.
Both teams continued to muscle up in defence and the Tigers managed to post a try wide out to give them a 16 - 13 lead. The Eagles continued to throw everything at the Tigers’ defence but just could not get the ball over the line.
With two minutes remaining, the Eagles pushed the ball wide, after hitting the Tigers’ right side defence and the ball was passed through a number of hands before Jake Kingston scored in the corner, much to the delight of the many faithful Eagles’ supporters. With 60 seconds left on the clock, Alex Pearce calmly slotted over the goal to give the Eagles their 19 - 16 win.
After the match Coach Farnsworth told the players that this was the gutsiest win he had been associated with in his four years at the Eagles, a sentiment wholeheartedly endorsed by the Eagles diehard supporters.
The Eagles will now meet the Taree City Bulls in the Grand Final at Wauchope on Sunday with the match starting at 12p.m.The Eagles players, coaching staff and committee invite all Eagles fans to be at the game to cheer on our very talented team.