Orange Hawks claim frustrating Group 10 premier league win over Blayney Bears

In a stark contrast to their superb performance in the week prior's win over reigning champions Bathurst Panthers Hawks were, simply, pretty uninspired against the seemingly improved Bears, although they still did enough to win 34-22.

Although it wasn't a game that reached any great heights in general Hawks' ball handling in the opening 40 minutes was awful, at one stage half a dozen consecutive sets ended with a knock-on virtually on Blayney's line, and they only led 10-6 at the break as a result.

The hosts did improve in the second period after a whopping spray in the sheds during the break, and although they remained far from their best they still crossed for four tries to Blayney's three to secure the 12-point win, which keeps them in a share for the competition lead with Mudgee and Panthers.

"Frustrating is definitely the word I'd use for that one," Heta said.

"I did think we were past that kind of performance but still lost our structure at times and there was patches where we just couldn't hold onto the ball at all and we kept them in the game with our mistakes.

"Look there probably is more to take from that game than if we came out and put on a massive score but in saying that it was very frustrating, especially to do that after a performance like last week's (against Panthers), but that may have taken its toll a bit too.

"We spoke about it all week though, you know, Blayney had nothing to lose so they were always going to come out and scrap, play at the ball and that sort of thing but at the end of the day we'll take the two points, we'll take it."

Blayney actually looked the better of the two sides in the opening 20 minutes and they had a 6-4 lead to boast as a result, Robert Lane opened the scoring from a beautiful short ball from Steve Lane before Hawks hit back through debutant James Carr.

With Hawks and to a somewhat lesser extent Blayney virtually unable to complete a set the scores didn't change until the 33-minute mark, when two blues halfback Alex Prout challenged the line and sliced through, Duncan Young's conversion making it 10-6 in favour of Hawks.

Steve Lane actually forced a repeat set in the shadows of half-time but the Bears' thoughts of another try before the break were put to bed by Young's 80-metre drop-out, and then a knock-on.

Hawks' first set following the restart was much-improved as they got a roll-on and went 90 metres in it, and after Blayney spilled it close to their line and Ethan McKellar crossed it looked as though the floodgates might open.

WATCH: Ethan McKellar crosses for Orange Hawks' first try after half-time on Sunday

They didn't, because McKellar dropped it first tackle after the restart and Robert Lane scored his second straight after. The kick was waved away, leaving Hawks' lead at six at 16-10.

The two blues did find some much-needed continuity and Heta scored as a result, before Prout cruised over from dummy-half for this second, Young's pair of goals pushing Hawks' lead to 28-10.

Hawks spilled it early in their next set, again, and Carter Hirini scored Blayney's third try from a nice Robert Lane offload 18 minutes out from full-time.

It must be said even with Blayney cutting the margin to 12 points the result never looked seriously in doubt, and any slim chance of a miraculous Bears' comeback was then put to bed by Talon Hodge's 71^st minute try.

He was disallowed five minutes later as well, but by then the result was assured.

Hirini did score another on the stroke of full-time, taking a quick tap 15 out from his own line, catching Hawks napping, finding space and sprinting away untouched, showcasing the trademark speed that made him so threatening in the 15-man code with Orange Emus.

He said his side's effort was "as close to an 80-minute performance" as they've produced and largely put the difference down to fitness, a lack thereof in his side's case.

"We did run out of puff, absolutely," the Bears' fullback said.

"That was as close to an 80-minute performance as we've put in this year and that's encouraging I guess, but it's still a fitness issue with us, you really saw the difference in that between the two sides in the last 10 minutes of each half."

Hawks will be sweating on the fitness of skipper Kyle Byrnes too, he was carried off the field in 27^th minute what looked to be a reasonably painful leg injury.