Central North Rugby: Magpies prove prey for Lions

The Lions struck early, James Clift crossing for the first of his two tries inside the first couple of minutes, and from there never really looked like being beaten.

The Magpies did launch a brief fightback early in the second half, but that was quickly quashed by the Lions as they notched back to back wins for the first time this season.

Whilst happy with their start, coach Toby Simkin was more happy with the way they carried on from it.

“There’s been plenty of times where we’ve got out of the blocks and scored a few tries early but haven’t gone on with it,” he said.

“I felt like today we didn’t have that 20 minute lapse we have been.”

Both sides experienced some handling issues early and squandered opportunities, but it was the Lions that settled the best with Elliot Tourle as master and commander.

The former Country Cockatoo boasts one of the best kicking games in the competition and, like he did in the two sides’ earlier meeting, just controlled the game.

He was constantly turning the Magpies’ around, and forcing them to work out of their half.

Also assuming the kicking duties from the tee, he extended the Lions lead to 8-nil about 10 minutes in, the ball ricocheting between the posts before going over.

That became 15-nil with about 10 to go in the half, fullback Hugh Brownhill chiming into the line, and steaming onto a beautifully-timed pass from Tourle that pierced the Magpies midfield defence.

Given a “dressing down” by coach Craig Summers at half-time, the Magpies came out firing in the second half and were eventually rewarded with Lachie McIntosh crossing in the corner after a powerful burst from Luke Klasen.

But any momentum they might have been building was stemmed when Gus Fraser crashed over under the posts.

Clift crossed for his second not long after, showing good speed and footwork to cut back inside the Magpies defence and secure the all-valuable bonus point.

Simkin said it was great to have Clift back, and nominated him as one of their best.

Tourle was also a standout, while Fraser stood up around the park a lot better, Simkin said.

He was pretty comfortable at half-time.

“The only thing we really spoke about was organising our pods better,” Simkin said.

“A few times we’d over committed to the ruck and were a bit short other rucks.”

And while the set pieces were probably not quite at the level they have been the forwards in their loose play were “100 per cent better”.

Hooker Gordon McNeil said it was a fantastic win.

“We’ve had a couple of losses but to get a win to finish off the season at home is fantastic,” he said.

Summers said the Magpies “just didn’t show up”.

“We weren’t in the race. We piggy-backed them (through penalties) and didn’t pressure the kicker,” he said.

Both were areas they’d identified from their earlier encounter they needed to be better.

Adding to his frustration was the opportunities they butchered. In fairness the intent was there, but the execution wasn’t.

“We were trying to go for that miracle ball instead of going to ground and consolidating,” Summers said.

Their clean-out also wasn’t good enough.

“They (Quirindi) were good over the ball. They stole a lot of ball they shouldn’t have,” he said.

He did feel a “glimmer of hope” after half-time but then it “fell apart after that”.

Skipper James Bracken again led from the front and was with Kieran McHugh their best.