KOOTINGAL and Werris Creek maintained their unbeaten status while reigning premiers Dungowan Cowboys were rocked by the Walcha Kangaroos on a day when the Boggabri Kangaroos confirmed they are real contenders for a Group 4 Second Division premiership.
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In the all -Tiger clash, the Uralla Tigers hosted the Manilla Tigers and handed out a 74-14 flogging and at Barraba the hometown Bulldogs were given a 48-6 thrashing by the Kootingal Roosters.
At Walcha’s Captain Cook Oval, the hometown Roos lost 34-18 to the Dungowan Cowboys.
The Cowboys were an improved team following their night loss to the Creek.
“We played a lot better, played as a team,” club president Bruce Henry said.
“It was a real good, clean, hard and solid game.”
Scott Henry crossed for two tries, the lock one of the Cowboys’ best along with Shae Collins, Clint Ridley, Shaun Ferguson and Matt Wilson.
The Boggabri Kangaroos had a much better time at Bendemeer Oval where they started and finished powerfully to beat the Bendemeer Mountain Men 46-20.
The David Harris-coached side, with Toby Morris and Ben Haire still to come back from long-term injuries, led 16-6 before the Mountain Men came to life and got back to 16-12 early in the second half however a 10-minute binning for Shannon O’Leary was the game-changer.
The Kangaroos piled on two tries to take control and race away with the game.
Halfback Daniel Poss was a key man, scoring three tries and having a hand in a few others.
With Brad Hamilton, hooker Brad Harris and prop Heath McIlveen, the Kangaroos had a heap of good players.
Centre Chris Sheridan was another to impress along with Robert Jones, who came off the bench to pop some excellent left-hand offloads.
A long-range Paul Sharpley try also highlighted a good day for the Kangaroos against a side that took a while to warm up, coach Jake Reid said.
“They (Boggabri) were too good,” Reid said.
“We had our chances but didn’t start playing until the last 10 minutes of the first half.
“We should have never turned around.”
Trailing 16-12, Bendemeer looked capable of notching a key win but Poss took a hand to create a marvellous try for himself.
When O’Leary was binned, the Kangaroos took control with a Sheridan grubber laying on a try for fullback Jack Gilham and then Sharpley’s long-range kick and chase followed by Poss strolling over.
Suddenly the Kangaroos led 40-10 and the game was gone for a home side which did manage a late try for lanky winger Riley Taylor.
Adam Rutley, Harlee Milgate and Jamie Bullock were good for the Mountain Men while big prop Rodney Rolls took the ball forward all game despite being ill.