RUGBY LEAGUE
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TWO teams of legends were cheered home to a 32-all draw on Saturday night as the International Legends of League turned it on for the crowd at Jack Woolaston Oval, with an Origin battle featuring plenty of former stars.
David Peachey and Nathan Blacklock proved that they still have a perfect game sense, linking up right through the game with some scintillating chips and chases for the crowd.
Petero Civoniceva and Mark O’Meley re-ignited some Origin fire, while Andrew Walker and Robbie O’Davis showed they still have some gas, but it was Year 11 Farrer student Hayden Loughrey that opened the scoring.
Loughrey and fellow Farrer boy James Fisk both got a jersey to play with the legends, and both were heavily involved.
While Loughrey scored first points, his main concern when he got named to play for Queensland was facing John Hopoate.
“I don’t know, he just worries me,” Loughrey said.
The Country U16 fullback dove on a loose ball from a Robbie O’Davis bomb shortly after kick-off and helped Queensland to an early two try lead.
His favourite part of the game was an electric interchange between Blacklock and Peachey, including a chip and a few passes back and forth, until they had played themselves under the posts.
“It was just amazing to watch,” Loughrey said.
The game was played in three thirds and in the second Fisk found himself in a headlock from none other than 33 Origin warrior Civoniceva.
“Yeah he had me for a while,” Fisk said. “I have just been so lucky to get to play.
“It has been everything I expected it to be and more.”
With Queensland coming in with six on the trot, they were desperate to make it a record seven, although after taking an early lead the class of the Blues backs shone through as Lyons partnered back up with former Manly hooker Jim Serdaris and gave Walker, Blacklock and Peachey some room.
Everyone else in the ground sat back and watched the brilliance of some of the players, especially dual international Walker, who looks like he could walk back into a first grade side.
NSW took the lead in the final third, although a couple of tries against the run of play levelled the game up before the final bell.
In the curtain raiser North Tamworth went down to a spirited Terrigal eight tries to five.
Dungowan beat North’s reserves and league tag sides in close contests, following Farrer beating Oxley High 40-4 in the opening match and Tamworth All Stars beating Tingha in league tag as well.