KOOTINGAL and Dungowan are set for a top-of-the-table clash after contrasting wins in Group 4 Second Division matches on Saturday.
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While the Kooty Roosters had a tough fight on their hands against the Walcha Roos, the Dungowan Cowboys whipped Quirindi 52-6 at Quirindi.
With the Werris Creek Magpies beaten 20-18 at Boggabri’s Jubilee Park by the Kangaroos, the Cowboys joined the Magpies in equal second on 24 points four adrift of the Roosters but will enter the match without captain-coach Luke Taylor after his second-half send-off.
Dungowan president Bruce Henry said Taylor was retaliating to a punch from a Quirindi Grasshopper.
“They (Quirindi) came out fairly physical,” Henry said.
“We didn’t have to play too well to beat them.”
Matt Wilson, Justin Fox, Chris Gooch and Clint Ridley were best for the Cowboys, Henry said.
At Boggabri, the Kangaroos were spearheaded by big games from halves Brad Hamilton and Daniel Poss as well as back-rower Robert Jones.
Hamilton scored two tries as well in a game where both sides scored four tries.
“We just couldn’t hold the football,” Werris Creek coach Lindsay Bowne said.
“We turned it over 17 times. We did the same against Kootingal too. We’ve just got to hold the ball so we can mount some pressure.”
Bryce Parsons was best for the Magpies, with Peter Johnson, Beau Parry and Brendan Hunt also playing strongly.
At Manilla, Barraba won 46-10 against the Tigers.
Tim Coombes and Adam Russell were missing for the Barraba Bulldogs who were best served by twins Jock and Zac Mallise, Jayse Starr, playing hooker, lock Kieran Darlington and Tye Fairweather.
Dan Fawkes never stopped for the Tigers.
“He’s got a huge motor,” Bulldog secretary Jacob Hawley said.
“We can’t make it now but will be playing for fun, as usual, with home games against Bendy, Uralla and Werris Creek.
Walcha Kangaroos cannot make the semi-finals either but had the Roosters worried right from the kickoff.
The Roos scored the quickest try of the season when they trapped a Kooty player in his own in-goal and then Lachlan Laurie pounced on the ball to score when it was dropped.
They also scored 1min 20secs into the second half to make it 18-all in a tough game.
The visitors had their chances too but, when denied 16 minutes into the second half, the Roosters rallied to score four tries in 12 minutes for a 48-18 win.
Lock Andrew Moodie had a hand in most while hooker Daniel Sullivan also excelled for the home side, scoring three tries.
Sullivan dived over from dummy half twice and then scored his last with a “long” five metre run to grab a deserving hat-trick.
Lachlan Brown was outstanding for Walcha, scoring a try and making several try-scoring tackles in a game with a huge work rate.
Hooker Ben Moran, Jock Abraham and five-eighth Jason Latham also played well.