Narwan Eels’ Fred Waters was a catalyst in helping his team return to the Group 19 competition this year and in Saturday’s game against Glen Innes he again played a key role, in delivering his side an emphatic victory.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Waters was at his rampaging best to charge over the line five times in his team’s 62-24 home win over fellow 2017 returners Glen Innes Magpies.
Injuries mounted for the Magpies late in the game but the visiting side dominated the opening stages.
Repeat sets and penalties carted Glen Innes up the field and Nick Say capitalised nine minutes in with Jayden Ehsman adding the extras.
Four minutes later, Ehsman crossed and converted to put his team 12-nil in front.
Narwan hit back five minutes later when fullback John Roberts palmed off defenders to score.
Waters then earned the first of his four pointers when he went in under the posts to level the scores.
Daniel Cheers put the Magpies back in front and Ehsman made no mistake with the conversion.
Waters added his second off the back of a perfectly executed cross-field kick into the corner.
Jordan Moran’s conversion attempt fell short and the visitors held an 18-16 lead at halftime.
Two minutes after the break Waters secured his hattrick.
Moran made no mistake with the sideline and Narwan were in front for the first time in the match 22-16.
Injuries were taking their toll on the visiting side and the Eels took full advantage with Clarrie Moran busting through the line and putting Gary Quinlan over.
Jared Edwards put the fend on Glen Innes defenders to score in the corner before Jordan Moran scored his first try for the game.
Luke Hodgson broke through the Narwan defence to bring the scoreline back to 38-24.
Celebrations were shortlived when Roberts scored his second three minutes later.
Moran then darted through the Magpies’ line to run 70m and score.
Waters then bagged back-to-back tries to round out the final score.
While the home side earned a significant win, coach Peter Moran wasn’t impressed with his side’s start to the game, giving away repeat penalties and carting their opponents up the field.
“Poor start, the last couple of weeks we have been starting poor, sides getting in front of us by halftime,” he said.
“We just addressed it halftime about picking the tempo up, lifting our defence, stop giving penalties away and completing our sets.
“It has been like that for a couple of weeks now but when we addressed that at halftime the boys changed their attitude a little bit, especially in defence.
“The penalty count is hurting us at the moment, especially in the first half.
“They were the better side than us in the first half, I couldn’t wait to get to halftime and let them know where they were going wrong.
The Eels have the bye this weekend followed by the Group’s general bye over the long weekend.
Moran said the break will give his team time to rest up before they face the reigning premiers Inverell Hawks.
“We are just going to train and prepare well through the week and start better, you can’t start like that against sides Inverell and the Boomerangs,” he said.
“With these two weeks we get off, we will get over our injuries and we have a couple of players to come back.”
Narwan’s reserve grade team were also victorious in their match against Glen Innes.
Only one half was played but the home side ran out winners 20-4.