The Lower Macleay Magpies earned a 52-22 win over the Comboyne Tigers on Saturday but they also won off the field as they helped raise $4000 for local charity the Macleay Valley Coast Diabetes Group.
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The Magpies would like to say a massive thank you everyone for their generous support, especially from the Macleay businesses and individuals who donated and contributed to the day and night and to all those who attended the game at the Smithtown oval and the after match function held at Smithtown Club.
Without this support the club simply couldn’t help raise the money it does each year for the group. It’s been a hard year with crowd numbers down etc, so any kind of amount raise by the club for the charity was going to be a bonus.
The amount raised definitely exceeded expectations considering the times we are living in at the moment so it was a really great result.
The Magpies were tested in their match as it was far from a one-sided contest.
The Tigers being first to score and the trend continues as the sides would go try for try for a while which was full credit to the Tigers who only had 11 players on the day.
They really didn’t give up the entire game considering their lack of players and the Magpies thank them so much for supporting the day and sticking it out.
Tigers captain coach Blake Reis had an outstanding game scoring a double, with Beau Dorrington and Luke Reis scoring one a piece and Cameron Pharoah kicking three goals.
For the Magpies, halfback Mick Flanders crossed for three tries, a double went to Bowen Birkett with Trent De Gioia, Corey Grigg, Zac McKiernan, Matt Burley and David Davis all scoring one each.
Bo Wilson kicked five goals and Shawn Skinner who played in his 100th game for the Magpies also getting involved kicking the last goal of the day.
Congratulations to Shawn on the milestone game for the club. He has been one of the Magpies most loyal and committed players over the years and the club thanks him very much.
The newly formed Magpies Ladies team tackled the Beechwood Shamrocks as a curtain raiser for the main game.
The girls game was entertaining and really brought in a crowd. They are learning and improving each week with current Magpies Zac McKiernan as their coach, who is doing such a great job in the role and they are really enjoying the game more and more.
The girls usually play on cold Friday nights at Wauchope so it was a great for them to play in the daytime and in front of a home crowd and get the support they deserve.
The Magpie girls went down 6 points to the Shamrocks 10 but played with a lot of heart and never gave up.
The Magpies also had girls racing back from Wauchope from the Mustangs girl’s league tag game to back up and play. It was an awesome effort by them and by all the players on the day.
The Mick Dyet memorial Magpies player of the match went to Shawn Skinner. He had a good solid game and was the very worthy recipient of this special award which was selected and presented by Mick’s brother, Ian Dyet on the day.
The Magpies would also like to thank the Macleay Valley Mustangs portability players for the game. Huge thank you to Matt Burley, David Davis and Maurice Kelly for helping out and coming down to play. It was so greatly appreciated.
Overall the Magpies and the MVCDG were once again overwhelmed with the support from the Macleay community to make the day a success.
It truly is a great area we live in with so many willing to help raise funds for this amazing local charity and for that they are very grateful.
With last Saturdays games the last of the regular season games in the Hastings League Competition, the 4 the placed Magpies will now head over to Wauchope to the Lank Bain Oval this Saturday to play in the elimination final against the fifth placed South West Marlins at 1pm.
The winner will advance while it’s the end of the season for the losing side.
The second placed Kendall Blues will play third placed Laurieton Stingrays game in the following match being played at 3pm. The Long Flat Dragons are the minor premiers and will have the week off.
They will play the winner from the minor semi-final between Kendall and Laurieton the following week also at Wauchope.
The Magpies need to win every game from here on in if they are any chance of staying in the hunt.
They have had a tough year with injuries and commitment but they will hopefully finish off strong and show us all the team we all know they are capable of being.
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