It’s probably one of the most memorable games this season, across all the grades.
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It was a gladiatorial contest between one team that was playing at home with 19 players on the book, and the visitors with only 11.
The round 15 clash between the Blayney Bears and Oberon Tigers last Sunday was one of those games that coach Cameron Hobby could only describe as ‘unreal’.
“We only had 10 for the first half because Brad Cheney took a bit of knock in the opening minutes and was off until after the break,” he said.
The game got off just as it ended with the Bear’s crossing the line and nailing the first points for the match, courtesy of a Joey Hobby try after only two minutes of play.
That set the Tiger’s blood boiling and they put down two tries soon after before the Bears clawed their way back.
Another converted try after Wells’ effort by the Tigers had the score at 14-8 at half time.
At half time the only advice that Hobby gave the side was to catch their breath and get back into it.
Still with only 11 on the field and Oberon having six pairs of fresh legs jiggling on the benches, the second half started off all Oberon’s way and they took off after eight minutes when they extended the lead to 20-8 after a converted try.
They were the last points that Oberon scored as the tide turned in Blayney’s favour and the tries, and the important goals by Brad Cheney, began to mount.
Liam Henry began the onslaught followed by the first of two by Joe Coady, bringing them within two points of the Tigers at 18-20.
It was a tense 12 minutes later, with only two minutes left on the clock, that Joe Coady once more dived over the line for a try, neatly converted once again by Brad Cheney, that secured a win for the side.
Hobby said that he had no definite plans for the next few weeks, other than beating Lithgow this weekend and hoping for a few repairs to be realised.
“We’re trying to get everyone back and healthy hopefully, back from injury,” he said.
“Brad Baker and Caleb Acton look like they’re out for the rest of the season but we should have 17 on the books this Sunday,’ he said.
Blayney is now equal fourth on the ladder with Cowra.