WOLVES FLYER: Blake Sheppeard touches down despite the efforts of the Hawks’ defence. lm082012blake
WORKMENS Club Wolves wrapped up the Group 10 minor premiership when they thrashed a busted Orange Hawks side 88-0.
Needing only to win the match to take out the title after Orange CYMS were beaten the day before, the Wolves made sure of the win with a 15 try haul.
Five eighth Taf Nicolas had a field day kicking 14 goals for a tally of 28 with the majority of them from out wide in a first class kicking display.
It was only two weeks ago when Nicolas had run up a 26 point scoreline in the Cowra game.
“We have been playing busted for a month with our side missing seven or eight first graders through injury,” Hawks’ captain coach James Wynne said.
“It has been tough with a lot of our players doubling up playing first division and then backing up for premier league.
“Even though the score says we copped a hiding, we never gave up all match and I was proud of the boys.
“The Wolves are the competition leaders and were very strong today.”
Orange Hawks arrive at Lithgow with a squad of around 20 players to make up two teams and the writing was on the wall right from the start when they dropped the ball off the kick-off.
From the ensuing play the ball big Brendan Van Veen strolled through some threadbare defence to open the scoring in the first minute.
From then on it was a procession to the try line with further tries going to Brendan West, Blake Sheppeard, Jeremy Fittler, Ben Hews, Matt Mizzi, Jeremy Fittler (his second) and Jamie Clarke.
The halftime score was 46-0 with the game all over bar the shouting.
With eight tries scored it was amazing that lock Jonathan Van Veen who had scored 13 tries in his past four matches was not among the try scorers, although he was playing a key roll in the attack.
Van Veen was not to be denied when he scored in the first minute after the resumption of the second half.
Again the free running Wolves piled on the tries with Corey Willmott, Jeremy Fittler (his third), Kyle Walsh, Brendon Van Veen (his second) and Jaime Clark (second) keeping the scoreboard attendant busy.
“These sort of games are hard to keep your structure and intensity, but the boys did well,” Wolves Graeme Osborne said.
“The most pleasing thing about the game was their defence keeping Hawks to nil and completing their sets.
“We now have a week off to get rid off any niggling injuries and will be here at home again for the semi final.”
The Wolves all played well with the standouts being Jamie Clark, Taf Nicolas, Brendan West, Jeremy Fittler and Aaron Christie-Johnson.
It was a game Hawks would rather forget and were glad to hear the final hooter blow the end of a season that all come crashing down around a month ago due to a swag of injuries.
SCOREBOARD: Lithgow Workies 88 (Jeremy Fittler 3, Kyle Walsh 2, Jaime Clark 2, Brendon Van Veen 2 and Ben Hews, Blake Sheppeard, Corey Willmott, Matt Mizzie and Brendon West tries and Taff Nicolas 14 goals) def Orange Hawks 0.