Current Western Plains Rugby Union Premiers Walgett Rams landed in Cobar on Saturday, clearly confident of handing out a rugby lesson to the Cobar Camels in their quest for further glory in 2026.
At fulltime, the Rams were comfortable 55-5 winners but for long periods the Cobar side frustrated the visitors to restrict their lead to
15-5 at halftime.
With four late withdrawals, Camels coach Taufao Taufao was forced to create a five-eight, rehome a fullback and start his two new team members.
In a first for him, forward Benny Griffiths slotted in at five-eight and showed his versatility with a sound kicking display and by varying the attack with his long passing.
This week Graham Manui very capably filled the role of fullback and, who knows, maybe he will step up to pack down at tight head prop next week, if uncontested scrums threaten.
And, against a team of the calibre of Walgett, Tristan Bliss on the wing and Jayden Greenwood at flanker were outstanding for first gamers.
The Camels took the initiative early in the game in attack and it was a couple of simple handling errors, not the Walgett defence, which cost them any opportunity to score points.
The Rams’ two opening tries resulted from Cobar’s inability to retain the Gilbert and Walgett pounced on those mistakes throughout the match.
Against a bigger and more experienced forward pack, the Camels held their own in the scrum, the front row of Matt Bolam, Marsh Rewha and Jordan Sipendi unmoved by the Walgett tight five.
Cobar’s locks Ben Tavale and Lachie Mitchell won some line-out ball, but that area continues to be a too easy and regular source of possession for opposition teams.
With the score Walgett 15-0, Cobar forced a turnover in Walgett territory to allow five-eight Griffiths to angle a perfectly weighted kick into space. Camel fullback Manui and inside centre Fidelis Ah Sam chased, Ah Sam just pipping Manui to regain possession for Cobar.
Ah Sam had the pace to beat the desperate Walgett defence to score.
Conversion was unsuccessful but that try prompted a hastily convened meeting of the shell-shocked Walgett behind the goalposts.
In the second half, number eight Joash Toringi continued his fearless charges into anyone sporting a white guernsey with Cobar’s other big boys Bruno Uaito and Iese ‘Chase’ Sauvao joining the fun.
Toringi has started to hone a few rugby skills as well, securing possession for Cobar and defusing Walgett raids by affecting several turnovers on attacking and subsequently bewildered Rams.
But those unforced errors!! Walgett feasted on them.
Near full time a scrum was set with Walgett to feed. A big push from Cobar disintegrated the much-vaunted Walgett set piece and Cobar won the penalty.
Hooker Rewha took a quick tap and aimed up squarely at the collective dented egos.
But the referee blew time and that was the end of that.
The final score reflects the Camels’ mistakes but does not reflect the effort put in by all team members.
Chris Crotty was a rock in defence and involved himself more in general play by using his height to successfully compete for the ball when Cobar kicked off. He was Players’ Player.
Putting on a flawless performance at five-eight earned Benny Griffiths three best player points. Second rower, Ben Tavale, shared two points with breakaway-cum-halfback Mitch Dunne. Mitch’s cover defending tackle to down a smug strutter from Walgett with the tryline in his sights was textbook stuff.
Newcomers Tristan Bliss and Jayden Greenwood will be assets to the team and split a Best & Fairest point.—contributed
