In the run up to the semi finals, the Cobar Roosters were all revved up and ready for a big game against the Gilgandra Panthers on Saturday afternoon at Tom Knight Memorial Oval.
However, the game turned out to be a bit of a fizzer and was all over by half time with the match called early by the referees after Cobar had an unbeatable 50-0 lead at half time.
The Panthers arrived in Cobar on Saturday short on First Grade players and had to call on a number of their Under 18s Youth League players to make up their run-on side.
The Roosters were hoping to get some good game time in preparation for their league leaders duel this weekend with the Coonabarabran Unicorns (with whom they share the top of the table status), however that wasn’t going to happen.
Most of the Roosters hadn’t even touched the ball in Saturday’s game before Jaxon Burke had crossed out wide for a try in the first minute.
Tadhg McMullen’s side-line conversion sailed over and set the tone for the scoring for rest of the game.
The Panthers had no answers as the Roosters went on to score eight more tries in quick succession, including three by their captain, Nathan McAndrew.
Fullback Ashley Davies and Hooker Thomas Plater both ran in doubles and Jackson Vallis also touched down for the Roosters.
McMullen landed seven goals to add to his big points tally for the season.
With the match called at half time for the mercy rule, the final official score was 60-0.
In the Roosters’ game this week against Coonabarabran, the victor will not only earn the Boronia Cup, they will also have taken a major step towards claiming minor premiership honours in the 2026 Christie and Hood Castlereagh Rugby League competition.
This Saturday the Cobar club will also be dedicating their main grandstand in honour of a past Roosters great, Norm Armstrong.
