EXCITING WIN GETS BEARS CLOSER TO TOP 4 BERTH

15th August 2009 | By Steve Little | PDF Media Release | Back to Full List of Articles

A cloudless blue South West sky was the awning to an action packed match up between the North Sydney Bears and the Western Suburbs Magpies on Saturday.

In a match that came down to a difference of only 10 points in the second half, Jaiman Lowe was a late cut from the Bears line up while the Magpies’ late inclusions were Dean Collis and Dane Laurie.

Wests’ Dean Collis was the first to score early at the five minute mark, after a penalty was handed to them at the Bears line. Levi Freeman converted to take the lead 6-0.

After the kick through on the sixth Norths’ centre Greg Nichols seized the moment and dived in under the posts to score. This gave Justin Hunt an easy conversion and a 6 all score line.

But Wests were completing more sets of six and taking the advantage in field possession. This led Rhys Pritchard to find an overlap to the right of field and score in the corner making it 10-6 in the Maggie’s favour.

However a break by Norths’ five-eighth Justin Hunt in the final 10 minutes of the half was all the Bears needed. Justin’s 50 metre sprint led fullback Samu Wara to run and ground the ball behind the posts for easy conversion by Justin 12-10.

The final try of the half awarded to the Bears was a more difficult proposition, with the Norths forwards having to wrestle in attack down the left of field. Justin Hunt ran in under the posts and converted for an 18-10 lead.

As the second half began massive metres were being made by the Norths forwards and half Jarryd Hogan scored under the posts for a converted try 24-10.

The weight of possession had swayed towards the Bears and a penalty from the kick off led to Norths’ winger Reece Robinson sliding in the right corner to score from a Samu Wara cut out pass. Justin Hunt’s conversion from the sideline was spot on the black dot and the Bears moved further in front 30-10.

But the Magpies were not done yet. Wests’ winger Andrew Everingham scored in the 58th minute and the scoreline became 30 -16.

It was a fumble by Wests in catching the high ball that gave Bears centre Bladen Baird the chance to score and make it 36-16. But Wests hit back with Dean Collis scoring in the right corner. A good conversion by Levi Freeman edged the Magpies closer to a comeback at 36-20.

Then Wests were served a major bonus and Norths lost their captain after Samu Wara was sin binned with ten minutes on the clock.

A heroic Bears outfit with only 12 players and tiring in the heat weathered 3 successive attacks, eating up valuable time that the Magpies needed to mount a comeback.

The fourth attack was successful with five-eighth Brendan Waters scoring and Levi Freeman converting to bring the Magpies within 10 points 36-26.

However the Bears appeared to step up a level forcing an error in the final two minutes of the match which led Norths’ winger Chris McQueen to score in the right corner.

Justin Hunt’s masterful conversion from out wide cemented a hard fought and important win for the North Sydney Club.

NORTH SYDNEY 42 (Greg Nichols, Samu Wara, Justin Hunt, Jarryd Hogan, Reece Robinson, Bladen Baird, Chris McQueen tries, Justin Hunt 7 from 7 goals) defeated Western Suburbs 26 (5 tries, 3 goals). Halftime 18-10 North Sydney.

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