It wasn’t Cowra’s best performance of the season and at one stage at Caltex Park on Saturday it appeared an upset was on the cards but in the end the Eagles proved far too good for the Dubbo Rhinos.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Eagles made the trip to Dubbo in fifth spot on the ladder and were determined to make a statement in the Blowes Clothing Cup but when they led 26-19 during the second half the result was far from certain.
But the men in red and white piled on the points late to win 52-19 over a Rhinos side which suffered through numerous errors and injuries.
“There were just passes half a metre behind blokes and blokes not catching that pass that was easy and things just didn’t gel like they did before the week off last week,” Cowra captain Chris Miller said of his side’s disjointed performance.
“There were some promising signs there but overall we’ve just got to learn that when things aren’t going our way we need to go back to basics and get those things right.”
Despite his side suffering a 33-point loss, Rhinos coach Dave Stuart was relatively pleased with his men, especially considering last time the two sides met the Eagles won 80-14.
The Rhinos virtually handed the Eagles the first two tries of the match when an attempted clearing kick went straight into the arms of Ryan Murphy 5m from the line before an attempted flick pass ended up in the hands of outstanding centre Adam Higgins the same distance out barely five minutes later.
But the home side got back into the match and two breakaway tries from flyhalf Kade Goodwin got them within touching distance during the second half and Stuart was pleased with what he saw.
“I thought it was an excellent game and a bit disappointed (to lose) to be honest,” he said.
“We were in that game 20 minutes into the second half even but fatigue took a toll in the end, we were a bit short on the bench again and a couple of injuries didn’t help at times.”
The Rhinos lost Isi Tupou, Ben Paterson, Chris Hobson and Manbir Mann to injury during the match but hooker Matt Neil was tenacious again and he scored his side’s first try to make it 19-5 after after 25 minutes and that was how it stayed until the break.
Cowra gave boom recruit and former Australian Sevens player John Grant his 2016 debut in the second half and he scored a try with just his second touch and he also finished off the scoring in the final minute of the match to help his side pass the half century.
Higgins was the standout in the match, breaking tackles nearly every time he ran the ball, and was singled out for praise by Miller while scrumhalf Ryan Murphy also scored a double.
Stuart confessed a number of Cowra’s tries were just too good to stop but was adamant his side can still make an impact in the final rounds if they can stay fit.
“I think we’ve shown improvement right through and maybe our fitness still hasn’t been up there but our training has been disjointed with the wet grounds and a few injuries at the wrong times has left our bench short and that showed today,” he said.
COWRA EAGLES 52 (Ryan Murphy 2, John Grant 2, Adam Higgins, Chris Miller, Jacob McNaught, Jack Duffy tries; Alex Webster 6 goals) defeated DUBBO RHINOS 19 (Kade Goodwin 2, Matt Neil tries; Chris Hobson 2 goals)
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
