MICK Hockey has regularly been one of the biggest targets on opposition teams’ radars and against Tamworth on Saturday the Quirindi five-eighth gave an indication why.
Hockey has consistently been one of the first players mentioned the past few seasons and, at pivot, has taken on the linchpin role that many view the five-eighth to hold.
Saturday’s performance arguably wasn’t the most constructive in attacking terms but Hockey still had a big influence, receiving the zone three-point best and fairest vote.
He scored almost half of the Lions’ 39 points, from a try, four conversions and two penalties and, when required, played a settling role kicking for territory.
“Overall it was a really good performance by the boys,” Hockey said.
“We picked up a couple of tries through chargedowns but that was from the boys applying the pressure.”
The Lions’ script read almost identical in both halves, scoring early before the Magpies started to dominate possession and territory, but while their lead was threatened in the second half they retaliated when they needed to.
The win was their second on the trot after a big win over Gunnedah the previous round, and kept them mathematically in the finals hunt.
The reality is a little harsher but the aim for the Lions over the final rounds will be to build up the wins on the run home.
“We got a lot of the harder teams out of the way earlier in the round. We’ve still got some tough ones but we’ll just work at each one and hopefully we’ll win most,” Hockey said.
It has been an indifferent season for the Lions after successive finals appearances but one where they could have been finals contenders if the close games had fallen their way – as in the last two seasons.
It was a weekend for the play-makers, with Pirates pivot Nathan Handley receiving the three points for his efforts in igniting the Buccaneers’ win over Walcha.
The Buccaneers polled the top two points, with captain Evan Kellow picking up the two and remaining just off the shoulder of Inverell counterpart Dave Kearsey.
Kearsey was the three-point recipient in the Highlanders’ victory over Scone and one of two backrowers to figure at the top with Narrabri’s Brock Johnstone getting the top vote.
Moree centre Heath Riggs was the other three-point winner after his four-try feat, with number eight Beau Lamond picking up the two and moving into outright third.