CHRIS Hunt polled his first points in the Group 4 Best and Fairest Award on Sunday but reckoned it was the brilliance of five-eighth Sam Taylor that inspired the Lions to a come- from-behind win against Gunnedah at Scully Park.
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The Lions had led 12-4 just before halftime but the baby Bulldogs scored two tries in two minutes just before half- time to take a 16-12 lead into the break and then another just a minute into the second half to make it 20-12.
Lachlan King’s second try of the day seemingly set the Bulldogs on a winning way with an eight-point advantage but Taylor and Hunt spearheaded the Lions to a 30-20 win.
Taylor’s ball-playing brilliance mesmerised the Bulldog defence at times in the second half as he dummied his way to two second half tries.
Coupled with the electric and incisive running of Hunt, who was playing lock, and the Lions were able to conjure a win.
Hunt was delighted to win but not so happy with the amount of dropped ball, penalties and errors the Lions made.
“We did drop a fair bit of ball,” he said.
“I think we were trying to go too wide too early and got too impatient.”
Taylor was outstanding and won the Lions’ players’ player award after crossing for three tries and kicking five goals.
“He stepped up but needs to back himself more often,” Hunt said.
“When he does, they hang off him.
“When he plays like that he plays a lot better.”
Hunt’s three points in the Group 4 B&F enabled him to join teammates Dylan Lake and Phil Beaton on three points while Taylor sits three points clear at the top of the table from Armidale’s Moses Malual and Narrabri’s Daniel Howe.
Howe polled one point in Sunday’s 48-32 win over Oxley Diggers at Collins Park, Narrabri.
Teammate Nathan Harvey polled the three points while Diggers prop Sam Schiffmann, who had driven from Coffs Harbour on Sunday morning to link with his teammates to travel to Narrabri, collected the two points.