Memorial Oval.
In a dominant display on their home turf, the Cobar Roosters First Grade side downed the Dunedoo visitors 46-0 in Round 5 of the Christie & Hood Castlereagh Rugby League Competition on Saturday.
Played in front of a smaller than usual home crowd at Tom Knight Memorial Oval, the Roosters dominated the Swans from the start to finish of Saturday’s game.
The Swans’ cause was not assisted by not having any reserves on their bench (they’d only travelled with 13 players) and then a couple of sin-binnings throughout the game also didn’t do them any favours.
It didn’t take the Roosters long to settle into the game with Jimmy Neyland (back out of retirement) scoring a try out wide in the 7th minute.
Tom Plater’s first attempt at goal was well off the mark but he was given plenty of opportunities later in the match to make amends.
Plater finished the game as the Roosters highest point-scorer, contributing 10 points (from five conversions) to their final tally.
Midway throughout the first half, Ben Griffiths had the Cobar supporters on their feet as he made a breakaway run down the wing.
Griffiths was caught and pulled down but with the Swans penalized for holding him down in the tackle, the Roosters were still in possession and were quickly back attacking their line.
Gerald Mackay wore down the Swans defence with his charging run before Tristan Everett slipped over to score Cobar’s second try.
Not long after Roosters captain/coach Loma Atuau looked to score but was well wrapped up by three defenders. However Atuau managed to pass the ball out the back to Marty Turton who nimbly raced over to score next to the posts.
The Roosters pushed the score out to 22-0 just before halftime when attacking from halfway, the ball went to ground but Roosters winger Jack Brown got a toe to it and kicked through. He regathered and raced away untouched to score under the posts.
The Swans, somewhat refreshed from their break at halftime, put up some resistance early in the second half but it was only short-lived as the Roosters ran in another four tries.
Sione Fakahua touched down for the Roosters next try before Griffiths made another break and this time he sprinted away to score under the posts.
Shortly after centre Tim Hillam pivoted in a tackle close to the line and stretched out to successfully score.
After a scrum 10m out from their line, Atua made a determined run. He easily outmuscled the wanning Swans defence to run around the back and score under the posts for their final try.
Having an outstanding game, Plater earned the Roosters’ Best & Fairest three points, Nathan McAndrew (who had a big game playing in the second row) picked up two points and Brown collected one point.
Brown was also named Players’ Player.
The Roosters head to Trangie on Friday for a night game for Round 6.
Cobar currently sits in second position on the competition ladder (behind Narromine).
