Loughran scores try on debut with Roosters

Kyle Loughran scooped up the ball from the back of the scrum and evaded the Wellington  defence with a sneaky side step that saw him score under the posts in the Group 11 Reserve Grade game at Tom Knight Memorial Oval on Sunday.
Kyle Loughran scooped up the ball from the back of the scrum and evaded the Wellington
defence with a sneaky side step that saw him score under the posts in the Group 11 Reserve Grade game at Tom Knight Memorial Oval on Sunday.

One of Cobar’s favourite sons (and the Cobar Roosters’ No 1 fan) Kyle Loughran joined the Cobar Reserve Grade to play their Group 11 Rugby League match against Wellington on Sunday with Loughran scoring a try on his debut.

Sunday’s Round 17 matches played at Tom Knight Memorial Oval were the last games for the Cobar club this season and, while Cobar only celebrated one win for the day in the Ladies League Tag match the spirit of the game was well and truly evident all day.

First Grade referee Tom Hodgson commented that despite the 62-22 margin in Wellington’s favour, the match had been “a good game”.

The Cobar First Grade team found it hard to match it with the pace of the Wellington visitors, in particular Justin Toomey-White, who scored three tries in the Cowboys’ win.

Try scorers for Cobar were Michael Tahitua, Wade Potter, Luke Moody and Dan Kelly with Potter kicking three conversions.

After leading the Reserve Grade side out on to the field on Sunday Kyle Loughran then took his place on the bench to patiently wait for the nod from Coach Paddy Harris which came at a crucial moment late in the second half.

Down 18-6 at the half time break, with Cobar’s only points coming from a try to Matt Manns after a penetrating run and the subsequent conversion from Wade Potter, the situation wasn’t improving for the Roosters in the second half.

With Cobar trailing 34-6, Harris needed a new game plan and so he sent Loughran in.

Playing at five-eighth, Loughran scooped up the ball from the back of the scrum and evaded a number of Wellington defenders on his way to score under the posts, much to the delight of the enthusiastic Cobar crowd of supporters.

After their momentary lapse in defence, the Cowboys bounced back and finished the match as 46-10 winners.

The Cobar juniors this week rounded up a full side to play the Wellington visitors however the were soundly beaten 80-6 by a very talented Under 18s Cowboys outfit.

Daniel Stanley-Barrow was a standout for the visitors running in seven tries while Kotoni Staggs was sensational with the boot kicking 11 conversions for Wellington.

After players and committee members recover from their Super Hero Sunday end of season celebrations they will now start planning for next season.

 

Roosterettes finish 2015 League Tag season in fine style

Sam MacLeavy running the ball up for the Roosterettes on Sunday in their League Tag match against Wellington at Tom Knight Memorial Oval. The Roosterettes won the match 20-16 with MacLeavy one of Cobar’s four try scorers.
Sam MacLeavy running the ball up for the Roosterettes on Sunday in their League Tag match against Wellington at Tom Knight Memorial Oval. The Roosterettes won the match 20-16 with MacLeavy one of Cobar’s four try scorers.

The Cobar Roosterettes finished their Group 11 League Tag season in fine style with a thrilling 20-16 win over Wellington on Sunday at Tom Knight Memorial Oval.

New to the competition this year, the Roosterettes have been improving each week and Sunday’s win against Wellington was their second of the season.

The Wellington girls started strong and scored not long after their first touch of the ball.

They quickly followed it up with a second unconverted try and were ahead 8-0 before the Roosterettes really kicked into action.

Sam MacLeavy opened Cobar’s account after she dived over the line to score and Natalie Barnes’ conversion had them back in the game with the score at 8-6.

Naomi Whitehurst crossed for the Roosterettes shortly after the restart to put them ahead 10-8. Barnes’ attempt at the conversion bounced off the post and the score remained 10-8.

A break by pacey Jenna Fullagar and offload pass to Barnes saw her score under the posts and the crowd went wild however the referee called the ball back for a tag on Fullagar.

Shortly after Taylah Good crossed out wide for a legitimate try and Cobar led 14-8.

Wellington hit back with an unconverted try to close the gap to 14-12 before Zoë Harland put a grubber kick through close to her line which she regained and scored.

Bek Harris’s conversion was on the mark and Cobar led 20-12 with a minute to play.

Wellington scored a late consolation try after they regained the ball from a short kick off but it was Cobar who finished as 20-16 winners.