KOOTINGAL Roosters got their Second Division premiership defence off to a flyer on Saturday with a good win over a defiant Wee Waa in Kootingal while Dungowan and Uralla shot to the top of the table with wins over Boggabri and Werris Creek respectively while Bingara and Manilla played out a 28-all draw to kick off the Plate.
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In Kootingal, the Panthers arrived with the bare 13 but took it to the premiers, the two sides going try for try in an entertaining first half that finished at 12-all after a sickening head clash saw the home side lose front-rowers Grayson Bradbury and Leroy Murray, who was in trouble on the field following the hit and saved by the quick thinking of an opponent and a few of the Roosters’ league tag team.
Fitness eventually got the better of the visitors, with Kooty finishing with a flurry of second-half tries to take the match 42-18.
Roosters lock and defensive machine Josh Bradbury was the pick of the forwards, while halves Jordan Sharpe and Ben Williams showed good ball movement in the second half to lead the Roosters to victory after copping the first-round bye last week.
Coach Pual Hyson said that both sides showed a lot of character to put on a good game of football following the clash that stopped play for several minutes after Murray was in a bad state on the ground following the knock.
“We knew Wee Waa would come hard and it was a good to and fro,” Hyson said.
“There was a lot of positives to come out of it and we will keep improving.”
In Barraba, tempers boiled over in what was supposed to be a memorial match for Buddy Nean, following a bad tackle on Bulldogs forward Ben Cederblad, who was taken to hospital after landing on his head.
The Bulldogs ended up finishing on top of the close encounter that saw six players for both sides either sin- binned or sent off in the second half.
Barraba president and prop Jacob Hawley said the game turned a bit scrappy at that point, although he thought the home side showed plenty to stick to the task and take the points.
“It was a good game until it got a bit fiery and there were lots of send-offs,” Hawley said.
“Both teams were a bit disgraceful after that.”
Josh Crittenden was the standout for Barraba in the halves and new face Drew Bird also impressed at fullback.
In Dungowan, the Cowboys got one back on Boggabri with a close 22-14 win to go to the top of the table alongside Uralla.
Boggabri coach Dave Harris said that while a few 50/50 calls went against them they still had plenty of chances to get in front but couldn’t quite get over the mark.
Walcha got the better of Bendemeer with a big 58-6 win for the Roos to get the jump on the season while the Bingara Bullets shot back into Group 4 with a 28 all draw at Manilla.
