Camels unlucky to be beaten in low scoring game
Wednesday June 2, 2010
The Cobar Camels pack made sure their jumper, No 6 Blake Dunne, was front and
centre at a line-out throw in during Saturday’s game at Walgett. ▪ Photo contributed
.
The Cobar Camels ventured to a cold, wet and windy Walgett on Saturday for Round 5 of the Western Plains Rugby competition and were eventually beaten 5-0 in a tough game that only yielded one try.
After easily beating Gulargambone the week before, the Camels were quietly confident going into Saturday’s game against Walgett.
In contrast to recent years, the Camels turned up in Walgett with good numbers and were able to put early pressure on the Rams.
The Camels came close to putting points on the board first however a penalty shot at goal by Camels’ captain Chris O’Hara went wide of the ‘furniture’ and was regathered by the Camels, only to be held up over the line.
With back rowers Blake Dunne and Sam Baker pilfering plenty of ball at the breakdown, along with support from locks Ian Hartog and Tull Mitchell, the Camels were able to keep the pressure on the Walgett line.
However the Rams held firm and were able to turn the Camels around, only to be thwarted by brilliant cover defence from Camels Winger Daniel Howard and fullback Justin Schick.
But the Rams kept coming and the Camels continued to repel, with more brilliant cover by Tom Waters and a timely turnover by Number 8 Netava Tagi to keep the Cobar line intact.
However the pressure eventually proved too much, with Walgett Hooker Ged Cullen crashing over to put the Rams ahead 5-0.
Waters’ sniping runs from Halfback enabled the Camels to spark numerous raids on the Walgett line however in similar fashion to the game against Coonamble, it was poor execution that let the Camels down.
For much of the first half the two very evenly matched sides were only able to get as far as each other’s 22 metre line.
The weather and strong defence ensured that when the referee blew half time the score was still 5-0 in Walgett’s favour.
It was more of the same after the resumption, but, as both teams started to tire, the game opened up.
Some dirty play resulted in one of Walgett’s locks being sent to the sin bin.
This then allowed the Camels to mount more pressure on the line through more Waters snipes from the ruck and scorching breaks by winger Travis Schintler.
They were ably backed up by the Camels front row of Steve Gillette, Al Ewan and Clint Fennamore.
Yet again the Walgett defence held firm and allowed the Rams to mount raids of their own only to be cut down by more strong Cobar cover defence.
With neither side able to penetrate each other’s line and, the conditions ensuring an ordinary day for goal kicking, the score was still 5-0 when the referee blew full time.
First Grade’s best and fairest votes went to Waters (3), Dunne (2) and Tagi (1).
The Second Graders then took to the field for their match. The Camels got off to a flying start attacking Walgett’s line from the outset.
The crowd was certain the Camels had scored through Travis Schintler in the opening minutes, but the quadruple cut-out pass by prop Lindsay Turner to put him away was deemed to have been forward.
However the Camels didn’t have to wait long to get points on the board with Winger Schintler crossing in the corner shortly after.
Strong defence by Camels Winger Nathan Logue, along with good positional play from Dale Heterick and great tactical kicking from Five-Eighth Jayden Martin ensured the Camels spent very little time in their own half.
A brilliant try for Centre Harry Vari, who chipped, chased and side-stepped his way to the line, saw the Camels cross again.
New Camel, Heterick playing at Fullback, was able to add the extras with the boot to put the Camels ahead 12-0 going into the break.
Spurred on by Lock Darran Wells (who got plenty of height in a lineout) the other tight forwards, Brad Lennon, Jock McLeoud and Benn Wright began to impose themselves in the defensive line. With Fullback Heterick diffusing nearly every Walgett bomb that came his way, the Camels were looking good to pull off the upset.
Walgett finally got points on the board with a try against the run of play to narrow the gap to 12-5. However, this was as close as the Rams could get. A great team try starting with a good Camel lineout saw the ball move from one side of the field to the other for Schintler to bag a double and stretch the final score to 17-5 in the Camels favour.
Best and fairest points went to Heterick (3), Wright (2) and Martin (1). Tom Waters was named Players’ Player.—
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