Hounds News

Hounds Nip the Devil in the Butt

The Normanby Hounds have secured outright third place in the Northside 2 XXXX Premiership race with hard fought 25 points to 24 thriller at Purtell Park on Saturday.

With the Hounds coming off the back of a disappointing loss to the Gators a week earlier, the desire for a win was at a high. The outcome for the Hounds would be 3rd or 6th on the tightly contested XXXX table.
Normanby started well with several sets of mistake free football, finishing with a champagne finish in the corner by rookie Adam English.
The Devils hit back with a converted four pointer down the left side and the hounds trailed 6-4. With some repeat sets on the Devils line, the Hounds took the 2 points on offer from a silly penalty by the Devils forwards, scores locked at 6 all.
The Hounds replied with some charging runs from forwards, Hinchcliffe, LaBudda and Grimmond. Hinchcliffe after the game stated that ”watching videos in recent weeks of Hounds legends Hockings and Casey in the number 10 and 8 has provided insight into just how treasured a position in the Front Row Club at Normanby is viewed". The Hounds forwards continued to starve the opposition of possession and patience finished with a neat try from a kick and re-gather down the left side again to Hounds skipper and number 6 Grant Weiss. Humphrys converted and the Hounds took control 12-6.
After completing further sets through the midfield, Hounds captain Grant Weiss full of confidence with his 1st try of the 2009 season shaped for one of the ugliest field goal attempts in the history of rugby league. To the amazement of the 1000 strong crowd of supporters, Weiss sluggishly slapped the Steeden which sailed 35 metres an inch above the post and the Hounds looked to take the lead at the break 13-6. Never had the NORMANBY OLD BOYS seen such a risky and freakish kick since the Doyle to Pomfret chip in the 2007 Grand Final victory. Weiss later explained " I have been working closely with kicking coach Hightower and I suppose perfect practice pays off".
Soon after the wobbly boot affair the Devils fought back and secured a meat pie well and truly into the 37th minute of the half. The Normanby boys headed to the shade confident they could close this game out in the second half with discipline and a high completion rate.
After the break a spirited run from Sam Mulligan, got the Hounds Express rolling and Regan Fawkes made a joke of the left side Devil defence and strided out for a 60m run to secure a well deserved and celebrated try. Converted again by Humphris and the Hounds looked good at 19-12. The Devils weren't prepared to give away Third place without a fight and to no surprise the Devils again gathered momentum and went across for 2 more unconverted 4 pointers. The Hounds trailed the Nundah boys 20-19 with 10 minutes remaining on referee’s slow ticking watch.
Soon after the Devils 2 try assault the Hounds pocket rocket "Jackie Chan" left the Devils forwards stunned with magical scoot from dummy half to go over untouched to the left of the uprights. Kicking sensation Humphris converted to take the scores to 25-20. Nundah replied with another 4 pointer out wide but couldn't convert the pressure kick and the Hounds led by the slightest of margins 25-24.
A committed and never say die attitude from the Hounds defence line held out Nundah in the dying stages. A spirited Mitchell Stalker barked defensive orders to the Hounds from the sidelines and the Hounds scrambled to make tackle after tackle to finally force the error and retain possession until the final whistle blew.
A relieved Hounds halfback Elliott Parkinson, said" This win is type of stuff that separates the pretenders from the contenders. We pulled out a gutsy effort out there today, and we have plenty of boys to come back from injury and international duties. Places in the 19 are going to be tough to come by. We all need to pull our socks up and give it 110% at training."
The Old Boys 3 points went to ever improving Dave Labudda, 2 points to James Chan and 1 point to Regan Fawkes.
The Blue and White hoops will meet with arch rivals Valleys Juniors this Saturday 23rd at Emerson Park, the Grange.
Please come down to support the 2009 in their quest for another 2 points.