Hunter Rugby Union: Hamilton sounds warning with clinical win over Two Blues

The Hawks produced their most complete half of rugby in two seasons under Berry to set up a resounding 34-19 win over Wanderers at No.2 Sportsground on Saturday.

The scoreline flattered the Two Blues.

Hamilton dominated from the outset.

They played with power, but also patience - an element missing in the 27-22 loss to Maitland last round.

"We were pretty accurate in the first half," Berry said. "It was good because we played within ourselves. We didn't try and overplay our hand. We normally like to chuck it around. Today we played for good field position. Unlike last week, we were patient and quite clinical. We are still well away from the finished product but that was still pretty good."

Hamilton led 12-0 after 12 minutes. The first try came from a penalty and lineout. Chris Hemi burrowed over from close range, the first of a hat-trick of tries for the barnstorming loose head.

Another penalty was the launch pad for the second try. Again Hamilton recycled possession and after a bust from Hamish McKie, found an overlap for winger Nick Watson to score.

After barely touching the ball in the opening 15 minutes, Wanderers hit back when Luke Simmons sold a dummy and burst through. Winger Nimi Qio powered over two phases later. It was a rare bright moment in a bleak half for the home side.

Simmons was sent to the sin bin for pulling a player back chasing a kick through.

Hamilton crossed for two tries in his absence to open a 24-7 lead at break.

Every time they ventured into the Two Blues' red zone they left with points.

READ MORE: HAWKS RESET FOR CLASH WITH TWO BLUES

Wanderers were their own worst enemy. Their handling was poor, they got isolated at the breakdown and made misreads in defence.

"We were rubbish," Wanderers coach Dan Beckett said. "I said last week that I was confident that we would get better as the season went on. Now we have to get better."

"There were times when we were willing and physical. It was the unforced errors under no pressure ... it was embarrassing.

"Credit to Hamilton. It wasn't just how they were playing. I could here their talk. Between the ears they were great.

"Every game is an opportunity to learn. We are not going to wipe it. The boys have to work out why today happened and it's my job to help them."

In other games Saturday, fly-half Dane Sherratt led University to a 36-21 triumph over Southern Beaches at Calland Field, winger Aiden Procopis scored a hat-trick as Maitland out-gunned Singleton 62-5 at Marcellin Park and Nelson Bay had to work hard to beat a plucky Lake Macquarie 31-12 at Walters Park.

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MISTAKES

It was unforced errors. There were times when we were willing and physical. It was the unforced arrors under no pressure that hurt us. It is a good learning experience for us. We haven't been reminded of the standards we set for a while. Today we were embarrassing. It was really dsappointing.

DO WIPE

Every game is an opportunity to learn. We are npt going to wipe it. The boys have to work out why today happened and it's my job to help them.

SCRUM - positive

They are the bench mark in the scrum. That is the disappointing thing. We can get up to pack a scrum but you can't get up to catch a football.

Credit to Hamilton. I could here their talk. Between the ears they were great. It wasn't just how they were playing.

I'm happy that we weren't at our best. The scoreline reflects where we are at.

I said last week that I was confident that we would get better as the season went on. Now we have to get better.

******8

MARTY BERRY

We were a bit more patient. We were pretty accurate in the first half, but the second half there were a few bad passes and we gave away some penalties.

BETTER HALFVES

We were pretty accurate in the first half. It was good because we played within ourselves. We didn't try and overplay our hand. We normally like to chuck it around. Today we played for good field position. Unlike last week, we were patient and quite clinical.

TRAINING

Only training we had was Friday night on the side of the field at Passmore Oval. The pitch is screwed.

They floow

SHUT DOWN

Nimi was the one we were worried about. The defensive pattern we are working on. The boys are still getting there.

Afew of the forwards are getting match fit.

Hemi's second hal-trick, We have a little bit of x-factor.

We are still well away from the finsihed product. That was still pretty good.

SCORED 2 TRIES MAN DAY

Definitely.

MESSAGE HALF

Keep doing what we were doing. We gave away too many penalties in the second half. The breakdown is a lottery.

We did a few sillies things, we came around the corner when we should have kept going through the middle. Another time we kicked for the corner. We did enough to score a couple more tries.

FISO - missuses

BILLY CLAY - 50-20 kicks

He has a good boot on him.

UTILISE MORE

Mad not to. It is part of the game now. It can be part of your training. We are not going to over do it because we would rather have the ball in hand. But field position is field position.

HAD MERE, MAITL and Wanderers

We have lake Mac (cath up), Singo, then Nelson Bay. We have to keep getting better. We need to get on the training field, we haven't been able to train.

It was all mainly done by a video session and 20 minutes on the field Friday night.

They are inteligent boys - Jock, Taufa and Chris, Nick Breen and lousi?

ALLOW DO THAT

They are good footballer. The fitness we did in the pre-season was good. We trained with a bit of intensity so they are reasonable fit.

TAUF ANS Chris 21

Taufa is a good forward.

SEVA

He goes all right for a 43 year old.

*******

DAN BECKETT

We were rubbish. I can't explain it. I was super confident all week. They played well and were ready to play and we were just embarrassing.

MISTAKES

It was unforced errors. There were times when we were willing and physical. It was the unforced arrors under no pressure that hurt us. It is a good learning experience for us. We haven't been reminded of the standards we set for a while. Today we were embarrassing. It was really dsappointing.

DO WIPE

Every game is an opportunity to learn. We are npt going to wipe it. The boys have to work out why today happened and it's my job to help them.

SCRUM - positive

They are the bench mark in the scrum. That is the disappointing thing. We can get up to pack a scrum but you can't get up to catch a football.

Credit to Hamilton. I could here their talk. Between the ears they were great. It wasn't just how they were playing.

I'm happy that we weren't at our best. The scoreline reflects where we are at.

I said last week that I was confident that we would get better as the season went on. Now we have to get better.