Sport
Harvey leads Camel fight back to beat Coonamble
The Cobar Rugby Union Camels rallied in The Camels’ late surge to victory was cer- Camels ran on with injury or had the flu. the final minutes of their Western Plains tainly meritorious. Several key players were Tight head prop Waisea Kaliseiwaqa Bale game to come from behind to win 29–25 unavailable on Saturday and there were no badly damaged his calf muscle within the first against the Coonamble Rams on Saturday reserves on the bench until Jay Ellison wan- five minutes but fought on for the full 80 at Ailsa Fitzsimmons Memorial Oval. dered out to the oval for a look and half the minutes in the key position. The Camels initially fumbled and bungled their way around the oval in another slow start and lack of discipline founded the early penalty count 4–1 against them. But, against the run of play, Vetaia Saqasere took off and unloaded to Marika Tuilau (Marika) who galloped 50 metres to score. Winger David Johnson hit the post with his conversion attempt. No points there. The Rams were the busier team which kept hooker Mitch Dunne, supporting a busted shoulder, second-rower Jake Harbison supported by no cartilage at all in his knees, fullback Marika and five eighth Will Allen busy in defence. Cobar’s big men, Tony Jacklin and Jayden Harvey, together with not so big men, Steve Gillette and Matt Bolam, started to bash into a few Rams but, with penalties in favour of Coonamble, the visitors finally levelled the score 5-5. Coonamble touched down for two more five pointers to which the Camels answered with one through a Brandon ‘Chucky’ Jones pass to Marika. The Rams led at halftime 15-12. Coonamble held its halftime lead comfortably and then extended it midway through the second half. Camels’ number 8 Harvey had been seated on the sideline since the half-time break drawVetaia Saqasere (pictured after he stole the ball from his Coonamable opposition) had a ing comment from the Old Boys present. Crook from the flu, he however returned to hand in the Cobar Camels’ first points in Saturday’s game. He sent a well-timed pass to the field and single-handedly laid the platform team mate Marika Tuilau who raced away 50 metres to score. for the Camels revival. Harvey’s hard decisive charges at the Coonamble defensive line opened the Rams right up and pressed the Camels ‘GO’ button. His line breaks coupled with his offloads provided bread and butter for Marika as he fed 2 Marshall St | 6836 2102 | cobarrsl@bigpond.com off the Harvey opportunities. Allen continued his good form to score after some fancy footwork but winger for the day, Jay Ellison, touched down for the “try of the season”. Fridays 7pm + Black Beer Club Captain and halfback Kody Martin shot the Saturdays 3.30pm ball out to Allen who drew his man, Jones took Sundays 1pm his pass and loaded up centre Vetaia who found Marika lurking (as usual). Marika pinned his ears back, and with one Ram to beat, slipped the final pass to Ellison. With fulltime imminent and Coonamble still in front 25–22, the Camels pressed the Rams’ line by way of heroic individual efforts to bash their way through the ruck. Harvey assessed the situation, stood off the ruck and ambled over for the winning try and the lead. Johnson put the icing on the cake with his conversion. Final score 29-24. Former Camels coach John Carswell commented after the game. “The Cobar Camels should be very happy with their intent today, they kept on trying, not like last year, that is their biggest improvement,” Carswell said. The last-minute victory surely affirms the Cobar Camels are now a competitive and capable group and one which is restoring pride in the Camels guernsey and the credibility of the code in Cobar. The Old Boys must think so, most of them pushed their way into the team photo following Saturday’s win! Best & Fairest points went to Dunne (3 points), Allen (2) and Marika and Jacklin Punter’s Club: earned one point each.—Contributed
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Page 18 The Cobar Weekly Wednesday May 24, 2023
