Tea Gardens Hawks go down to Hamilton Ducks in Mallabula Myall Coast Sport Property/Sports/Opinion - popup ad Sport by News Of The Area - Modern Media - July 16, 2024 Shaqueil Saunders sends the ball through the uprights in one of three successful conversions. THE Tea Gardens Hawks fought the good fight in their away-game against the Hamilton Ducks, playing in a rare evening match at Mallabula on Saturday 13 July. Despite a typically strong start, too many errors within the first few minutes allowed the Ducks to get a couple over on the Hawks, putting them on the back foot too early. A change in the tide was heralded, however, by Ethan Tito, playing in his 50th seniors game, who ran in from 25 metres out, dodged and pushed off four defenders, and scored the first Hawks try to galvanise the Tea Gardens team into full-gear. Alex Sinclair followed with his first try of the game, scooping up one of Shaqueil Saunders’ trademark chip-kicks to the wing, sidestepping a defending Duck and scoring in the corner. Another try went to Riley Hunter, who pounced on a loose ball in the endzone, placed there by another of Saunders’ expert kicks, sealing a half-time lead for the Hawks. The second half started strong like the first, with Luke Perry, another playing his 50th seniors game, landed his own celebratory try a few minutes in, taking an inside pass from Saunders ten metres out. Darkness descended for the Hawks, literally and figuratively, with the Ducks making three more tries and snatching the lead. Defensive efforts in the second half were plagued by gaps and small errors that mounted up, allowing Hamilton to take the advantage, although one controversial forward pass call meant there was a disallowed Hawks try that could have made a big difference. Moments before the siren, the Hawks were back in form, shifting the ball with good passing left to right along the field, ending with Alex Sinclair again, who ran in from ten metres out to score in the corner. The final score was 32-26 in favour of Hamilton. Both sides remain in the top four, making a rematch highly likely in the coming finals season. The Hawks Men’s team’s bye next week gives them the chance to hone their form and fitness to topple the last two games of the season, and dive straight into the finals thereafter. By Thomas O’KEEFE Shaqueil Saunders sends the ball through the uprights in one of three successful conversions.
