THE MACKSVILLE Sea Eagles went close to a Group 2 rugby league win, only to again fall just short – this time at Allan Gillett Oval on Saturday, when they were defeated 42-32 by the Orara Valley Axeman.
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Both teams went into this clash needing a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive but it was the Axemen who struck first, with ex-Macksville player Jeremy Taylor scoring two quick tries and converting them to give his team a 12-0 lead.
The Eagles were not daunted by this attack and soon struck back when Michael Flanders charged into the defence to score and reduce the Axemen's lead to 12-4.
The Eagles Robbie Smith scored next on the back of great team work from Aaron Woods, Flanders and Peter Bula – with Smith running over two defenders with blistering pace.
Again the pendulum swung in the game, however, and the Axemen's big forwards and the early loss of Bula and Tyler Searle to injury took their toll on the Eagles, the Axemen running in two tries to lead 24-12 before the Macksville's Sam Miles scored a trademark charging try close to the halftime bell.
Owen Blair converted and the Axemen led 24-18 at the break.
The Eagles chances of a comeback looked to be dashed early in the second half when the Axemen scored a converted try to take a 30-14 lead but the Macksville squad refused to buckle.
A big charge by the forwards saw Blair score and convert his own try to reduce the Axemen's lead to 30-20 before Smith scored his second try of the day, running on to a great ball from Woods and beating three defenders. Blair converted and the Axemen led 30-26.
The Eagles took the lead late in the game when Miles charged into three defenders and still put the ball down to score, Blair's conversion giving the Eagles a 32-30 scoreline, the first time whey headed in the contest.
With five minutes to go both sides overcame their weariness to put in renewed pressure and when the Axemen received a penalty, this led to a converted try as they regained the lead.
The Eagles tried a short kick off, but their plans went awry and the Axemen crossed for another to run out winners as the bell rang.
* The reserve grade clash saw the competition leading Eagles assert their dominance in the first half to end up running out big winners, 36-4.
The Eagles won this game in the first half, running in four tries to take a 24-4 lead into the break, but in the second stanza they seemd to lose their way against a weakening opponent, scoring only two converted tries.
With the finals series closing in the Eagles' reserves will need to ensure they don't slip into bad habits over the coming weeks as their opposition grows stronger.
Jimmy Cutmore, Jerry Meehan, Lucas Grace, Ben Cockbain, Damian Carriage and Ben Goulder scored tries for the Eagles while Nev Donovan kicked six goals.
* This Sunday will see the Eagles travel to Grafton to take on the South Grafton Rebels, the competition leaders, in three grades, with the Under 18s to kick off at noon.