Miners start with big win

BERWICK Miners gridiron team kicked off their home-and-away season on Saturday with a 14-6 win over Blackhawks at home.
The Miners scored on their second drive of the day with a 20-yard pass from quarterback Jamie Stafford to receiver Cameron Neale, who then ran it in for 10 yards to score the Miners’ first touchdown.
Neale ran in a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown but the team was flagged for a block below the waist and the score was not counted. The next score for the Miners came from an Interception from Cornerback Ben Hutchinson who ran the ball back 25 yards. This set up Stafford to pass 15 yards to Sam Walker in the end zone for a touchdown. Stafford scooted in for the extra point. The Miners’ offence moved the ball well for their first game and the defence restricted the Blackhawks to only one score. The Blackhawks finished with 20 rushing attempts for 55 yards, and completed only five of 23 passes for 66 yards.
The Miners’ defence led by Mark Petana and Willie LeAfa, with eight tackles apiece, held strong in the last two minutes against the Blackhawks’ last drive. Cornerback Ben Hutchinson had three tackles and one interception.
New players are welcome. For more information on the Miners, phone 0419 518 201.