Brumbies in their Western Plains Rugby match at Brewarrina on Saturday.
The Cobar Camels travelled to Brewarrina on Saturday hoping to make amends for their 22-0 loss to Bre in the first round of Western Plains Rugby competition.
Prior to Saturday’s game Brewarrina was sitting in 3rd place on the competition ladder while the Camels were back in 6th position.
The Camels’ strength and conditioning coach John Barnes said they would look back at this game as a match of missed opportunities after Cobar narrowly lost 15-21.
“The overall game was very physical as both teams had a similar game plan in mind, one of Forward domination,” Barnes said.
“The game was a typical pick and drive around the mauls scenario to soften the opposition to establish gaps in their defence structure.”
The Cobar scrum annihilated their Brewarrina opposition from the get go with the Bre Hooker off early with an injury which resulted in uncontested scrums for the rest of the match.
Barnes said this didn’t suit the Camels’ game plan, but they adjusted well and played a good pick and drive game.
“There were missed opportunities in scoring tries due to continual handling errors by the Camels,” Barnes said.
He recalls three try opportunities that went begging after the last pass didn’t stick, was too hard and was dropped or the receiver took his eye off the ball.
Barnes said this was of major concern as the continuous dropped ball also led to one of Brewarrina’s three tries.
He said the Camels had however made multiple improvements since the two teams last met.
“Both teams scored three tries.
“The only difference was that the Camels’ goal kicker did not bring his kicking boots with him and missed all three conversions, otherwise it would have been a draw,” Barnes said.
A Brewarrina supporter was heard to comment that this is the first match where Bre had come off second best on physicality as they have dominated the competition so far with their Forward pack.
Barnes said he was impressed with the support for the Cobar team with many wives, partners and children travelling to Saturday’s game to support the players.
