Reserve Grade steps up to entertain Camels sponsors
Wednesday July 15, 2009
Saturday was Sponsor’s Day at the Ailsa Fitzsimmons Memorial Oval (AFMO) when the Cobar Rugby Club was able to acknowledge its various sponsors for their support in the 2009 season and, while the First Grade result against the Coonamble Rams was disappointing, Cobar’s Reserve Grade muster delivered a rousing and entertaining reversal.
The final First Grade score of 38-10 in favour of Coonamble indicates a thrashing but the Cobar Camels forward pack held their own on the day.
Even though the line-out continues to struggle, the Cobar scrum ‘stole’ two scrums against the feed and on another occasion wheeled the Coonamble scrum to win the feed.
In fact, nearly all of Coonamble’s tries resulted from mistakes or lapses in defence in the Cobar back line for which the Rams’ backs exacted severe punishment.
Coonamble scored twice in the first half but a penalty to Cobar saw centre Justin Schick, fullback Dan McGrath and five-eighth Chris O’Hara combine to put the Camels on the attack. Good ball retention work in the forwards by second rower Tull Mitchell and blind side flanker Sam Baker then allowed halfback Matt Low to force his way over Coonamble’s line.
Coonamble led 12-5 at half time.
Four more tries to the speedy Coonamble backs gave the Rams an unassailable lead but the Cobar forwards hit back.
The introduction of a fresh Evan Crossing recharged the Cobar pack for prop Bryce Rixon to crown his good form with a try after Schick had been held up over the line.
In the forwards Baker continues to go from strength-to-strength this week adding line-out skills to his repertoire, second rower Lachie Sullivan worked tirelessly both on and off the ball, Mitchell demonstrated what ball retention at the breakdown is all about and, while hooker Al Ewan was a standout in general play, his ball winning ability in the set piece remains freakish.
Mark Crossing on the wing, had a huge game in attack and defence with the only blight on his efforts the ‘setting up’ of Coonamble’s final touchdown.
Hard working halves, Low and O’Hara, were frustrated in their attempts to put the backs into attack, McGrath cut down a couple of certain tries to Coonamble but centre Daniel Howard was once again ‘Cobar’s rock’ in defence.
The Reserve Grade fixture was reduced to a 13-a-side affair with the Coonamble Rams short on numbers but, Cobar’s Camels with a generous support contingent from Cobar Rugby League’s Roosters, put on a scintillating exhibition to rout the visitors 52-10.
Centre Brendan Everett precipitated the victory with a brilliant individual display of raw speed to score for half back Steve Ford to convert. The Ford brothers, Peter and Steve, then combined to set Low up for the Camels’ second touchdown. Evergreen second rower Andrew Schmitt finally put some serious venom into the Cobar defence as five-eighth Chris Gilbert, with some strong running at pivot, gave the outside backs plenty of room to move.
Coonamble hit back with two tries against the run of play but Schick off-loaded to centre Peter Ford who somehow burst through a wall of Coonamble green to score.
Tries to Danny Smith, Everett (another two), Gilbert and Todd Lumber rounded out the Camels Reserve Grade entertaining match.—contributed
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