The Keech Australia Fighting Miners were thumped 67-19 by second-placed Kiwi Hawthorn in their final Victorian rugby road trip of the season on Saturday.
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The Miners were outclassed by the home team as their defence out wide and in broken play was exposed by the strong running and backing up of the Kiwi Hawthorn backs.
Kiwi Hawthorn looked like it would win by a cricket score as they scored seven tries to lead 45-0 at the half-time interval.
However, the Miners showed great spirit and resolve to score three tries in the second half where the scoring was 22-19 in favour of Kiwi Hawthorn.
In the second half, the Miners trademark hit-ups by the forwards in the narrow channels found Kiwi Hawthorn out. Two tries to flanker Ale Liliva and one to prop Jesse Tuitupou resulted.
The Manchester Arms player of the day award went to centre Phil Keech. Other Miners to show out were hooker Blake Theunissen, five-eighth Ryan Knofflock, flanker Jake Follent and Liliva.
Next Saturday, the Miners play their last game of the season when they take on competition leader Eltham at Epsom.
