The Cobar Rugby Union Camels competed in the Warren Rugby Gala Day on Saturday in their first competitive hit out for 2024.
Eight teams participated in a round robin format with Cobar playing four 25-minute games against a rejuvenated Bourke-Bre outfit, the Dubbo Kangaroos No. 1 team, the Narromine Gorillas and finally Coonamble Rams.
With a number of Camels unavailable for Warren, a team of 13 players made the trip to take on some hot opposition.
All opposing teams had numbers and lent the Camels enough players (not their best) to take the field with 15.
Cobar adopted a structured style built on defence, but the rugby was competitive and for the most part exciting.
The Bourke-Bre Barbarians have struggled for numbers in past years, but they presented with big men and in numbers.
It appears Brewarrina must be where rugby playing police are assigned.
However, the Camels were unfazed and proceeded to chop the legs out from under the big hard running forwards whilst individual defensive efforts from halfback Ed Paul running wide, flanker Mitch Dunne and centre Kody Ford shut down the razzle dazzle of the fleet footed Barbarian backline.
Winger Dave Johnson made a promising break, slipped a pass to Kody Ford backing up but he was nailed from behind.
Haymish McLeod delighted in hitting the ball up against the much bigger Barbarians and Jordan Bruce simply followed his lead.
Lochie Ford looked set to grab a loose ball and score, but a bad bounce and Barbarian cover defence beat him. The final score was
10-0…See this week’s edition for more of this report.
