The Cobar Roosters Under 18s came out on top in a fiery encounter with the Coonamble Bears in the Christie & Hood Youth League match played at Tom Knight Memorial Oval on Saturday.
The Young Roosters held out to win 12-8 after 60 minutes of a tough match which both sides were eager to win.
It was a sloppy start by both teams with the ball fumbled as the Roosters and Bears rushed their play in an effort to record first points.
Coonamble won that battle in the 8th minute when centre Kevin Thurston-Walsh found a gap out wide to put the Bears 4-0 in front.
It wasn’t until right on half time that the Roosters evened the score when Khan McMurray crashed over on the halftime buzzer to lock it up at 4-all at the break.
Shortly after the re-start, Cobar was awarded a penalty close to their line and while Lochlan Ford’s kick missed the mark it bounced back in play and Ashley Davies picked it up and sprinted over to score.
Ford’s conversion put Cobar ahead 10-4 and later his successful penalty kick stretched the margin to 12-4.
Midway through the second half Liam Fernando closed the margin to 12-8 with his try for the Bears.
From then on both sides defended strongly and the score was still 12-8 in Cobar’s favour on the final buzzer.
