Camels one step further to premiership hope
Wednesday May 20, 2009
Western Plains Rugby Union referee Brian Birks with the Camels' best and fairest players Timoci 'Big Jim' Bulivakamatua, Daniel Howard, Chris Marshall and Travis Schintler after the Camels' win on Friday night against Nyngan at Ailsa Fitzsimmons Memorial Oval.
Cobar Rugby Union Camels took another step towards legitimacy as a genuine premiership hope in 2009 with a resounding win over a spirited Nyngan side on Friday night at Ailsa Fitzsimmons Memorial Oval.
Without regular players Will Dobbs and Netava Tagi, the Camels produced flashes
of brilliance and intent which should convert into the establishment of a very good football side.
The Cobar forward pack took control early in the game with new look prop Nathan Kenny taking the ball up aggressively, backed up fiercely by Steve Gillette, Timoci ‘Big Jim’ Bulivakamatau, breakaway Sam Baker and Lochie Sullivan.
From a five metre scrum on Nyngan’s
line, lock Justin Schick went the blind side
but somehow managed to lose the ball
over the line.
Shortly after however, centre John Crozier stripped the ball from an attacking Nyngan three-quarter to off-load to fellow centre Daniel Howard who sent exciting new winger Travis Schintler over the line to score.
Half-back Matt Low added the extras for Cobar to lead 7-0.
The forwards continued to dominate with ‘Big Jim’ continually setting up his support.
Eventually he ran onto the long ball from Low to touch down for a converted try which took the Camels out to 14-0.
From the kick off, hard working hooker Chris Marshall fielded the ball, passed on to Low who found prop Gillette out wide.
Gillette, at pace, skied an up and under which he chased thought to ground for Cobar’s third try.
Props Gillette and Kenny, with their apparent footy skills and mobility, now appear certainties and indeed hell-bent on playing their way out of the ‘traditional’ Front Rower’s Club.
At half-time Cobar led 19-0.
A spirited half-time address from co-coach John Carswell obviously kept the Camels focussed for the second stanza as Nyngan came out firing, determined to claw their way back into the match.
The Nyngan fight back was defused however by Cobar’s resolve and by the steadying clearing kicks from five-eighth Chris O’Hara who, as a genuine rugby pivot, gives a solidarity to the Camel back line.
With winger Schintler forcing a five metre scrum on Nyngan’s line, referee Brian Birks awarded a penalty to Cobar.
Prop Kenny took a quick tap, drove the ball up and laid it back for ‘Big Jim’ to nail his second try which Low converted.
Nyngan countered but cunning centre Crozier again stripped the ball and put Cobar back on the attack.
An ensuring penalty to the Camels saw Low deliver a long pass to O’Hara who skid likewise to Crozier who touched down for a deserved and converted try.
A frustrated Nyngan player then decided to resort to ‘niggle’ but his tactics were rewarded with some serious retaliation by ‘Big Jim’ which earned the number seven a 10 minute ‘blow’ in the ‘sin bin’.
Cobar now had fourteen men and fullback Scott Meadows kicked through for Low and Schintler to chase.
Ever the gentleman, Low pulled out of the race to allow winger Schintler to score his second try.
Low grabbed some of the glory by adding the two points.
The Camels refused to slacken off and replacement prop Lindsay Turner brought the ‘Old Boys’ bar patrons to their feet with an apparent skittling gallop.
A second charge and superb centre kick from Turner almost allowed Schick to score.
The Cobar back line then relentlessly launched a series of raids on Nyngan’s line and, when backed up by Schick, the number eight found Howard who capped off a great game with a rewarding try.
Low again converted to bring up Cobar’s unanswered points tally to 48.
Best player was difficult to award as there were many stand out performances.
Special acknowledgement must be made of young flanker Sam Baker’s huge work rate and the settling influences of five-eight Chris O’Hara and centre John Crozier.
The points however went to our new Fijian breakaway ‘Big Jim’ (3), outside centre Daniel Howard (2) and Schintler and hooker Chris Marshall (1 point each).
After many years the Cobar Rugby Club can finally claim a depth of quality players which will in effect force the incumbent First Graders to perform each week as the unbeaten Reserve Grade side exerts pressure.—contributed
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