If your name’s Dave, there’s a good chance you’ll score a hat-trick for the Mudgee Wombats in 2018.
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After New Holland Agriculture Cup powerhouse Dave Jessiman pulled out of the Batties’ round nine clash at Blayney, Dave Birch did his best to impersonate him, scoring three tries in their 26-24 triumph over the Blayney Rams on Saturday.
The Wombats have made a habit of producing heart-stopping victories this season as it took them 79 minutes and 30 seconds to consolidate their most recent result.
Blayney held a 24-21 lead in the dying stages when Birch completed the hat-trick, putting the finishing touches on a strong sequence of pick and drives.
“We all knew we had to step up without Jessiman and Rayner,” Birch said.
“We knew our jobs and we played for each other. Today was a team effort. No one stood out individually.”
We all knew we had to step up without Jessiman and Rayner. We knew our jobs and we played for each other. Today was a team effort. No one stood out individually.
- Dave Birch
As humble as he is, it’s hard to not stand out when you cross the line three times as Birch’s involvement clearly played a key role in his side’s victory.
“It was great to get a win on the road against a quality team.”
With a half-time advantage of 21-5 Mudgee might consider such a narrow win as anticlimactic but nonetheless, away wins in this competition are paramount.
“We switched off to start the second half and they ran in two quick tries.”
“Hendrick and McGregor really paved the way for our backs all day with strong running.”
While the winning results have been pleasing, the best thing about the stretch, according to coach Greg Horton, has been the constant progression.
“The nice is we’ve been improving every week,” Horton said.
“The best part for us on Saturday was that we went away and got a win.
“So far this year, every team we’ve played has been so much stronger at home. To travel to Blayney and win there was huge.
“We played particularly well in the first half – probably the best we’ve played all season. We had the advantage of the breeze and made the most of that.”
Turning to the second half, Horton commented on Blayney’s fast start and a pair of yellow cards that plagued his side.
“We spent 20 minutes of the 40 minutes in the second half with only 14 blokes,” Horton said.
“They came out out strong too – to their credit.”
Horton knew it was a tall order to play without Jessiman and Rayner but was extremely pleased with their replacements.
“The whole team played but the guys that came in – Mike Ferris and Tom Hord – were really strong.
Mudgee’s next task is another away assignment, this time against Dubbo Rhinos.