Daucakacaka (at front) pictured with Camels club president Tony Jacklin.
The Cobar Camels have started their new rugby season off on the right foot recording a comprehensive 31-14 win over visitors, Parkes Boars.
The preseason friendly game was played at Ailsa Fitzsimmons Memorial Oval on Saturday afternoon in very hot conditions with the match modified and played in three thirds.
A moderate-sized crowd turned out to see the Camels take on the Parkes Boars, who have the reputation of a triple premiership winning streak as the New Holland Cup Premiers in 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Unfortunately the visitors were understrength and were missing a few players on Saturday and so the Camels loaned them a few forwards to ensure the game went ahead.
Kody Martin has taken on the Camels’ coaching role this season and if Saturday’s game is any indication of what’s to come in their assault on the Western Plains Rugby competition this season, then the Camels’ games will be very entertaining to watch.
The Camels took it to the Boars on Saturday displaying some hard hits, smooth skills and great structure in their play.
Cobar’s team this season has had an injection of some Fijian firepower with five players from the Lomavata Rugby Club in the Lomaiviti Province in Fiji, joining the Camels for Saturday’s game.
Willie Daucakacaka, has been training with the Camels after having arrived in Cobar before Christmas, while his four other Lomavata club mates, only arrived in town last week.
Newly arrived Marika Tuilau (younger brother of Australian Wallaby Marika Koroibete) showed he had plenty of pace on the right wing when he streaked away to post a try for the Camels on Saturday.
Also on debut with the Camels, Mike Mitchell, showed some potential playing at Flanker. (It was also the first game of footy he’s played!)
The Camels try scorers in Saturday’s match included Dave Johnson, Brandon Jones, Tuilau, Filipe Sotai and Daucakacaka.
The Bactrian ladies’ side, who were struggling for players earlier in the week, got the numbers they needed and they matched their Parkes opposition on the field with the game finishing in a 5-all draw.
The Camels’ 2023 season kicks off at the end of April.
