BELLINGEN – In a highly anticipated clash not seen in over half a century, the Bellingen Valley Dorrigo Magpies hosted the Bowraville Tigers at Bellingen Park on Saturday.
For the first time in over 50 years, the Bellingen Valley Dorrigo Magpies played the Bowraville Tigers at Bellingen Park on Saturday. Things were very willing from the start, with play sea sawing from one end of the field to the other. However, the Tigers were able to score two unconverted tries to lead, 8-0 at the fifteen-minute mark. An injury at this time to inspirational halfback Jesse Alford looked bad for the Magpies. However, at the twentieth minute mark Blake O’Connor crossed for the Magpies and Darcy Brown’s conversion had the Magpies trailing 8-6. The Tigers then scored another unconverted try to lead 12-6. Hard running front rower Caleb Rhodes then crossed for the Magpies to even the scores up 12-12. Right on half time, the Tigers scored again, this time a successful conversion saw them go to the break leading 18-12. After an incident early in the second half Tyler Blair scored his third and fourth tries to see the Tigers go out to a 26-12 lead. Tries to Riley Spokes and Caleb Rhodes, each converted by Riley Spokes saw the Magpies hit back to trail 26-24 with their first victory insight. This was not to be as they lost the ball over the try line on three occasions and had another disallowed through a double movement. The Tigers eventually running out winners 30-24. Certainly the one that got away. This Saturday, sees the Magpies play Comboyne at Bellingen Park.
Fortunately the game got underway (with some officials not being there), as the Glyde Boys with Peter appointed to the line, Donald was the stand-in Referee and Beau running the other line took to the field.
Stephen Glyde