The players trooped off at halftime with the scores favouring Forster by 6-0.

This was an encounter the Hawks were expected to win comfortably. However, Forster players paid the penalty for the early season syndrome of trying to score off every play. Despite dominating field position the Hawks managed just one try.

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During the halftime break some over-optimistic Wingham supporters were even dreaming of a massive upset. The first 10 minutes of the second half put paid to those hopes.

Utility forward Chris Simon surged through tackles to post Forster’s second try of the game inside the first five minutes of the second stanza. Soon after five-eighth Brayden Wynter pushed his was through a stretched defence to extend the lead to 16-0. From there it all became a bit academic.

The Hawks assumed control and went onto score a not totally convincing 34-4 win.

Wingham’s coaching staff and officials aren’t deluding themselves about the possibility of their rookie team winning the premiership this year. Coach Troy Atkins said as much at fulltime.

Half a dozen members of the first grade side were running around in under 18s last year and a couple of the Tigerss don’t look much older than the club’s ball boys.

There’s no lack of enthusiasm in the side, just experience. The season is going to be a huge learning curve.

It was hardly a vintage effort from the Hawks, but it’s early days yet and coach Graeme Jennings won’t be too worried. The Hawks were never going to lose the game, they just took their time taking control of the contest.

Wynter showed he is an able replacement at five-eighth for the injured Sam McCartney with a tradesman-like performance. Second rower Nat Watts was the best forward on the park, scoring one try and continually breaking the first line of defence. Second rower Tim Watson worked hard for the Tigers.

The rest mixed the good with the ordinary on what was a hot afternoon.

Both sides lost forwards in the first half.

Wingham front rower Zac Gaul made his way to the sideline early in the match and he didn’t return after suffering an upper arm injury. Forster-Tuncurry hooker Tom Freeman was also a first half casualty and there were fears that he had broken his thumb.

Forster were on the attack for much of the first half but didn’t score until the 33rd minute when prop Chris Coulton managed to free the ball close to the line and Watts scooped it up to crash over. Taylor Kerrison slotted the goal.

The Tigers had conceded 22 points before they broke their duck in the second half, some quick passing near the line resulting in centre Jaryd Cameron scooted across in the corner. Cameron looked like scoring in the first half when some quick hands gave him space down the touchline, but the movement broke down.

The Hawks had the final say with tries to Dan Lawton and Dean Basham and goals to Kerrison.