Hornet’s Nest By GRAEME LAWRENCE
THE Cudgen Hornets Rugby League playing season came to an unfortunate end at Pizzey Park, Burleigh Heads, last Saturday when the club’s reserves were bundled out of the finals by the Runaway Bay club.
The Baysiders will advance to the minor semi-final next weekend after finishing the stronger and running out winners by 24-20.
But they didn’t have it all their own way.
The Hornets started well with two fine tries to winger Ryan King on the end of some fine back-line play while lock forward Shannon Murphy scored a slick touchdown from a deft pass from half back Mark O’Grady.
However, it was a crucial five minutes from the half-time break – with the Hornets up by 14-4 and dominating the match – that the Baysiders called on lady luck to score twice.
The first was a freakish cross field kick which was plucked out of the air by a flying winger in Robert Filani, and the second a 70-metre intercept which saw the Hornets down 16-14 at the break.
When Mark O’Grady didn’t take the field for the second half due to injury, it left the Hornets attack disjointed and they appeared to lose their way and struggled to threaten the Bays’ defence.
It was a tough, physical match worthy of a semi-final and there was no quarter given as both packs tore into each other.
None were better for the Hornets than hooker Jarrod Cain, (unanimous Hornets players’ player), front rower Jacob Orr, lock Shannon Murphy and second rower Fletcher Wyver. While O’Grady was directing play, the Hornets looked in total control of the match and his loss was crucial to the outcome of the match.
The Hornets presentation night will be held at the Cudgen Leagues Club on Friday night 13 September. What more can I say than thank you very much to all of our Hornets supporters for your attendance this season.
Our crowds were extremely good, if not the best in the competition, best of luck to the Murwillumbah Mustangs in the NRRRL competition and go the Chookies in the NRL.
