DUNGOWAN Cowboys are preparing for a huge clash with Werris Creek Magpies at David Taylor Park this Saturday.
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The two sides, with Kootingal, sit atop the Group 4 Second Division ladder with 18 points apiece.
Kooty lead on for and against from Dungowan and then the Magpies.
The Cowboys also had to work hard in a “hitathon” at Dungowan Recreation Reserve last Saturday, overcoming the Barraba Bulldogs 34-16.
“‘It was a stop-start game,” Dungowan club president Bruce Henry said.
“There was plenty of dropped ball but also plenty of big hits.
“We did have seven or eight in the sin bin at different stages too.”
It was a game that had everything, Henry agreed.
Both teams hammered it out in the middle, with the likes of captain-coach Tim Coombes, Shaun Spence and Tim Mallise all excelling for the Bulldogs whilst hooker Lochie Collins, lock Clint Ridley and five-eighth Shaun Ferguson were amongst the Cowboys’ best.
“Shaun had a big game at five-eighth –he’s getting his timing back in tackles,” Henry said of a man renowned for his jolting tackles, high and low.
Ferguson also crossed for two tries as did Justin Fox.
“The Creek will be a big game too,” Henry said of the approaching clash.
“They have added Brendan Hunt too.”
Hunt’s inclusion in the Magpies’ lineup has added a lot more control and attacking promise around the ruck.
On Sunday, Hunt was one of the best for the Maggies as they repulsed a strong Walcha Roos challenge at Walcha’s Captain Cook Park.
The Magpies won 30-14 in what coach Lindsay Bowne said was a “great team effort”.
“I’m real proud of the boys,” Bowne said after the match.
“We turned over a bit of ball but once we got going forward we were right.”
Thomas Brown, Brendan Hunt, Bryce Parsons and Cody Tickle were outstanding for Werris Creek.
Beau Parry also had another strong game in attack and defence.
“Walcha had to win to stay in contention for the semis too,” Bowne said.
“It was a physical game but the boys defended well and they had plenty of sets on our line too.”
Bowne, too, is preparing for a huge game at home this Saturday.
In other G4 Second Division games, Kootingal beat Manilla 116-nil, Bendemeer hammered Quirindi 74-16 and Boggabri beat Uralla 44-nil.
