MANILLA Tigers might have won the Group 4 Second Division wooden spoon but they gave Dungowan a good run on a weekend where the club also honoured and remembered some of its successful sides.
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The Dungowan Cowboys, who play Bendemeer in an elimination semi-final at Dungowan Recreation Reserve this Saturday, won the final-round game 52-20 at Manilla Showground.
The Tigers also celebrated a reunion weekend, chiefly for the 1989-90-91 sides, but also for all and any players, officials and supporters.
Club secretary Neil Constable said there was a big turnout for the weekend.
“We were down 36-10 at half-time but the second half was much better,” Constable said.
“It’s been a good day though. We also had an auction at the Manilla RSL Club to raise money for a young kid, Patrick Coombes, who has cancer.
“We had a Sharks NRL jumper and it went for $2000.
“Anthony Dutton, one of our former players, bought it.”
The club had also raised around $500 at the ground earlier in the day to go with the auction proceeds while reunion organiser Sean Handsaker said the weekend also raised some good money.
“We’ll split it (profits) three ways, to the junior league, the senior league and Patrick,” Handsaker said.
“We had between 140 to 150 former players, sponsors, officials and supporters at our functions.
“The Friday night (meet and greet) was a big night at the RSL.
“There were a few hairy heads for bowls at the Manilla Bowling Club on Saturday morning.”
The Cowboys also thanked the Tigers for a good hit-out before their semi against Bendemeer this Saturday.
Cowboy club president Bruce Henry said the Tigers were strong, especially in the second half.
“They put it to us.”
He said the club was hoping to have Alan Tongue back for this Saturday’s semi.
“Even if he doesn’t play we will still get a pretty good crowd,” Henry said.
Bendemeer also warmed up for the knockout semi with a 40-26 win over Walcha at Bendemeer Oval on Saturday.
“They gave us a good run,” Bendy secretary Paul Hyson said on Saturday evening.
Michael Porter and Chris Leslie were best for Bendemeer along with Harlee Milgate.
While Dungowan and Bendemeer match up at Dungowan Recreation Reserve, Quirindi plays Kootingal at Quirindi Sportsground in the qualifying semi-final to see who plays Barraba Bulldogs in the major semi-final.
Quirindi confirmed that home ground semi by beating Boggabri 34-16 on Saturday.
The Grasshoppers led 28-4 at half-time and switched into cruise mode in the second half as they now focus on Saturday’s semi against a Kootingal Roosters side which had the final-round bye on the weekend.
Barraba Bulldogs sit out the weekend after winning the minor premiership and completing their home and away rounds with a tough 36-28 win over reigning premiers Werris Creek at Barraba.
The Magpies finished their season with a much better effort than their previous week’s horror display against Bendemeer.
Barraba coach Tim Coombes took the opportunity to rest star players Luke White and Joey Latham from the Creek game to have them right for the major semi.
‘They’re quality players,” Coombes said. “ We were fortunate to be able to rest both of them and have them right for the major semi.”
