Best and Fairest game points in the Roosters 32-10 win over the Magpies.
A convincing 32-10 win over the visiting Baradine Magpies on Saturday has ensured the Bantam Cobar Roosters retain their
top of the table standing in the Christie & Hood Castlereagh Youth League competition.
The Roosters Round 10 games were played at Ailsa Fitzsimmons Memorial Oval to accommodate Cobar Junior Rugby League who hosted a big schedule of five matches in the Dubbo & District competition at Tom Knight Memorial Oval.
Tyson Brilley opened the Roosters account early in the match with an unconverted try out wide in the left corner.
Not long after man of the match Johnny Best, who had plenty of possession throughout the game, ran in two consecutive tries and, with Lochlan Ford’s kicks both finding their marks, the Roosters had run out to a 16-0 lead.
Best was also instrumental in his side’s next try and his pass to Ford saw Ford score under the posts.
Ford’s successful conversion had the Roosters well and truly in the driver’s seat with a
22-0 lead.
The momentum then shifted midway through the half with the Magpies taking the ascendancy and attacking their line.
They capitalised on a tiring Roosters team who started making mistakes which led to a try by Hugh Horder and, at half time, the difference was 22-4.
Baradine carried that momentum into the second half and nine minutes in Brandon Worrell crossed for a try which was converted by Billy Carey to narrow the margin to 22-10.
Rushed play and basic ball handling mistakes had the Bantam Roosters assistant coach Darrel ‘Dasha’ Warren concerned and he called for the team to settle.
They did somewhat and a push-over try out wide by Brilley (his second try for the match) with nine minutes left to play, gave the Roosters some breathing space with the score now at 26-10.
Braith Good and Best, who had linked well all game, came together to score the Roosters’ final try.
After good lead up play, a late offload from Best to Good saw him cross to score.
Good’s easy conversion sealed the Roosters 32-10 win five minutes before fulltime.
Warren praised Best, Good and Dylan Morley (who had a lot of good hit-ups) as Cobar’s best on field while defenders Wyatt Proudlove and Ash Davies shared in the referee’s game points.
Davies, playing at Fullback with his solid defence, was again a stand-out as he shut down the Magpies raids on numerous occasions with some big tackles.
