Sport
Cobar Camels get a reality check from Warren Pumas
Cobar Rugby Union Camels received a taia to regain the ball and score. Skipper Kody half. Finally, Marika Tuilau decided to cut reality check against Warren Pumas on Martin failed to convert. 5 – 0 to Camels. loose, went for a gallop, chipped the ball over Saturday at the Ailsa Fitzsimmons Memori- Warren soon replied. A skinny Puma with a the defensive line and was decked with a high al Oval when they were outplayed by a bit of pace squeezed his way between two big tackle for which the Warren assailant copped youthful, fit and well drilled side. Cobar forwards who appeared to have hold of 10 minutes in the bin. Once again Cobar found itself with a differ- him and inexplicably made it to the try line Marika’s decking livened his team mates ent side to the one which played the previous some 25 metres away. 5 – all. right up. From the ensuing penalty, Camel week. Warren mounted another attack, backing captain Martin slipped the ball to Peckham Tafu Tafu (aka big “T”) had his first game each other up, eventually having too many who cut out the Warren defence with a 20this year at loose head prop joining this week’s numbers for Cobar and they scored under the metre pass to Schintler who scored out wide. tight head prop, Waisea Kaliseiwaqa Bale, who goal posts. 12 – 5 Warren. With Warren only just in front 12-10, the was one of last week’s centres. Adam Hill, Hooker Steve Gillette was doing what he Pumas immediately hit back with another wellwho has played for the Camels over the past does well, working hard in the tight stuff, when engineered try. 17 – 10 to Warren at half-time. few years, returned to a centre position. a contentious line-ball decision by the referee A positive for Cobar in the first half was The Camels boasted a new winger in Kayden forced busy five-eighth Will Peckham to take their defence. Warren certainly gave them Porter; Travis Schintler was in as a replace- 10 minutes in the sin bin. (Peckham slipped plenty of tackling practice with their back-up, ment winger and substitute lineout man; and and his knee accidentally brushed a Warren back-up style of play. Porter on the wing made Steve Gillette took Al Ewan’s position at player on the ground, a scenario which the a promising break but failed to see Marika hooker. referee did not adjudge quite like that and dis- looming in support inside. Big “T” maintained Cobar hit the lead first. Fijian centre, Vetaia patched him to the naughty chair.) a strong performance and with Jayden Harvey Saqasere, slipped the ball to open side flanker The rain provided no relief to the Camels as on the field and a sustained attack by the big Brandon ‘Chucky’ Jones who chipped for Ve- Warren maintained the pressure in the Cobar men up the centre against the smaller Warren forwards may have paid dividends. From a penalty, Warren took a quick tap. Peckham made a try saving tackle but, with the defence beaten, the halfback for Warren scored a converted try to lead 24-10. Shortly after, the consistent and well-balanced Warren team scored another try to lead 29-10. Jacob Ryan, along with Mitch Dunne, took the ball up to the Pumas repeatedly and tackled themselves to a standstill. Harvey consistently broke the defensive line and was well supported by Peckham, the “everywhere man”. Down the track better communication between Harvey and Marika must certainly precipitate an avalanche of try scoring opportunities and while, Marika has been the Camels’ strike weapon, they should not always wait for some Marika magic. He was well marked on Saturday and failed to score a single point, however the fullback saved any number of tries with his crushing defence. It was obvious that Cobar had more individual ability than Warren, but Warren showed that individuality and flashy play will not overcome a team that trains together and plays together.—Peter Payne Jayden Harvey driving the ball forward for the Camels on Saturday against Warren.
Page 22 The Cobar Weekly Wednesday May 17, 2023
