The Greater Northern Tigers' under-16 and under-18 teams had contrasting results against the Parramatta Eels in their third-round Country Championship matches at Singleton’s Pirtek Park.
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While the Steve Haylen-coached under-16s overcame a poor first half to win 28-14, the Peter Stevens-coached under-18s lost 18-12.
Stevens was disappointed for his side after a great start on Saturday.
“We led 12-nil early but they scored 30 seconds before halftime to make it 12-4,” he said.
“We were never in it in the second half. That was on the back of four or five penalties in the play the ball. We just never gave ourselves a chance. We might have played the ball in their half 20 times in the second half.
“The boys did work their backsides off defensively though. They (Eels) are by far the best side we’ve played so far. To keep them to 18 was a credit to our defence.”
Stevens thought Narrabri’s Kalab McMillan-Basset was his best, with a strong game in the middle of the park.
“Jack Todd also had a good game, first game back, and Cooper Harris was solid too,” he said.
The Tigers have to beat North Coast in the next round to stay in contention for the Laurie Daley Cup and while they suffered their second defeat in three games, the Tiger 16s posted their third successive win.
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They were locked 1-1 with the Eels at half-time after a diabolical first half.
“We didn’t complete one set in the first half,” coach Haylen said.
“The boys fell away from what we have been trying to do. It was very messy but the most pleasing thing was we turned it around in the second half, after a halftime rev brought them back to earth.”
He said Pichai “Tommy” Dixon was outstanding at halfback and his side’s best, while Inverell centre Campbell Watchirs had another strong game. Mark Simon and Jock Brazel also had big games in the middle of the park.
They will chase a fourth-successive Andrew Johns Cup win, against North Coast in Coffs Harbour this Saturday.
Andrew Johns Cup:
Tigers 28 (Jock Brazel 2, Latrel Newman, Campbell Watchirs, Mark Simon tries, Daltyn McCartney 4 goals) d Eels 14 (Declan Murray, Freeman Forsythe, Siosaia Unga tries, Kamoe Fekitoa goal).
Laurie Daley Cup:
Eels 18 (Ngarimu Harte 2, Connor Griffiths tries, Drew Lloyd 3 goals) d Tigers 12 (Jhett Butler, Harris Cooper tries, Steven Dengate 2 goals).
