There was plenty of hype leading into Sunday’s Group 19 clash between the Glen Innes Magpies and the Moree Boomerangs, and it certainly lived up to it.
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The top two A grade teams went to battle with the Rangs eyeing off the minor premiership and the Magpies hoping to cement second place on the table and the intensity of the encounter kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
Barely three minutes in, the Rangs landed the first blow with a try to winger Jonathan Munro before Moree were reduced to 12 men after a send-off.
Magpies hooker Guy Mepham capitalised to land a try 10 minutes later.
Mepham bustled his way over again at the 18-minute mark to edge in front 12-6.
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Three minutes before half-time, Moree front rower Toby Key found the tryline to level things up to 12-all at the break.
It took 15 minutes for points to be scored in the second session with Rangs halfback Willy Fernando finding space down the right side of the field.
Injuries to the Magpies began to take their toll as the hosts found themselves without a player on the bench for the final 20 minutes.
Jamie Sampson then scored for the visitors after a 50 metre dash to the line.
Glen Innes were quick to respond via winger Joel Jackson and the score was 24-18 with 13 minutes left on the clock.
With 30 seconds left to play, Moree sealed the 28-18 win with a four-pointer to Lloyd Munro.
Magpies captain-coach Nick Say was “disappointed” to have an unlucky run of injuries toward the end of the game.
“Two of our boys were gone in the first-half and then two more in the second which hurt us,” he said.
“But a few of the boys played big minutes which they don't usually do so that was a pleasing sign but it was disappointing with that finish.”
Say was pleased with his team’s effort in defence.
“I thought we defended pretty well actually,” he said.
“I know they only had 12 players but they are still a quality side no matter how many players they have got.
“They still throw the ball around and throw a lot at you.”
It was the last game for the Magpies before semi-finals but next weekend’s split round results will determine where they finish.
Earlier in the day, the Glen Innes league tag team landed a big 38-10 win over the third-placed Boomerangs.
After highlighting their attack as needing improvement earlier this season, Magpies coach David Willis applauded their efforts against Moree.
“We have been working on our attack for the last three weeks and today, everything we asked them to do, they did and it was a great result,” he said.
“We have struggled against the Rangs for most of the year but we turned it all on today [Sunday].
“I couldn’t pick out a bad player, they all played extremely well. I am very proud of them.”
In the under 18s, scores were locked at 6-all at half-time before Moree nabbed a 10-8 win.