Blues Power Over the Warriors in Top Four Clash
The Queanbeyan Blues have claimed a strong 34-22 victory against the West Belconnen Warriors on a tough afternoon at Raiders Belconnen.
Returning Captain Coach Ryan McQueen produced an inspirational performance for his side, however it was Blues centre Jaime Mazzarol-Kotz who stole the day scoring three tries in a crucial top four clash.
An error in the Blues opening set of the game from Mazzarol-Kotz provided the home side with a golden opportunity to open the scoring, which Captain Coach Ryan Mcqueen took advantage of, providing a crisp short ball to George Stewart who crossed for the opening try.
Both sides were looking to move the football in the opening ten minutes of the contest, with neither side able to execute the last pass resulting in being driven into touch and a knock respectively.
A damaging dart out of dummy half from Blues hooker Blake Murray provided Queabeyan with their first opportunity attacking the Warriors line, and after two sets in a row the pressure mounted as Murray burrowed over and levelled the scores at 6-6.
In the next set the attacking flair of the visitors was on full display with a line break from Jayden McLachlan pulling the Warriors defence out of shape, which his brother Dylan took full advantage of chipping in behind for Connor Williams, who knocked it back for Mazzarol-Kotz scoring underneath the posts to take the lead.
The end-to-end nature of the opening twenty minutes continued, with a line break from Warriors winger Brandan Withers put West Belconnen in the attacking red zone, allowing McQueen to spark his side again, this time with a grubber kick for winger Kylan Edwards, reducing the margin to two points.
A 40/20 from Warriors halfback Calab Edwards put the Blues defensive line under pressure, with the pressure unable to be withstood as Tom Haddad punched through a hole created by McQueen for his third try assist in the first half, giving the home side the lead 14-12.
The spectators at Raiders Belconnen wouldn't be mistaken for thinking they were at a tennis match with the end-to-end nature of the contest, an error from the Warriors directly on halfway giving the Blues the next attacking opportunity.
This error and attacking opportunity led to the injection of Jake Anderson into the contest which provided fruitful, as the interchange player darted out of acting half and regaining the lead for the visitors in the process.
The Warriors had multiple sets attacking the Blues try line with desperate defensive efforts preventing the home side on multiple occasions.
Queanbeyan's defensive resolve was rewarded through an intercept right on the stroke of half time, with Mazzarol-Kotz tip toeing down the touchline and running the length of the field to ensure the Blues lead at the break, 22-14.
Both sides struggled with their handling and discipline in the opening exchanges of the second half with neither side able to get into the rhythm they had in the first half.
The home side needed to be first to score after the half time resumption and they were the side who settled first as their captain Ryan McQueen chipped in behind for George Pohahau who collected, before finding his captain back on the inside, the miss conversion making the score, 22-18.
West Belconnen's errors continued to place the side under pressure, with the constant field position proving too much as Mazzarol-Kotz barged over from close range to restore the Blues lead at a comfortable two try distance.
The result was put beyond doubt as Blues halfback Dylan McLachlan sliced through the Warriors usually impenetrable defensive line, before drawing and passing the fullback to put Blake Murray over for the sealer.
Warriors' winger Brandon Withers made a break down the sideline which would be capitalised on by Jarrod Lenihan which provided the home fans with a glimmer of hope, however it would only reduce the final margin with this being the last piece of action.
