It was 50 years ago to the day on Saturday man first stepped on the Moon, with the simple phrase "the Eagle has landed" signifying the momentous occasion as Apollo 11 touched down.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was therefore fitting the anniversary was celebrated on Saturday by an Eagles side taking off and reigniting its own flight for the ultimate prize in Central West rugby.
The Cowra Eagles produced a gutsy and composed performance at Dubbo's No. 1 Oval, with two tries in the final four minutes securing a massively important 33-21 win over a Kangaroos side which was described as having "nothing" in the second half.
The second stanza of the gripping contest was a dogfight compared to the first. The opening 40 saw momentum swing back and forth as each side ran in three tries, the Roos going into the break with a 21-19 advantage.
No points were scored in the second half until those final stages, as Cowra finally made its sustained pressure count and secured third spot on the Blowes Clothing Cup ladder.
Dubbo Kangaroos director of rugby Beau Robinson gave a scathing report of his side post-game, hailing the leadership shown by Cowra's key men while calling out his own.
"I don't think it was even a matter of not being able to close it out. Closing it out makes it sound as though we we got into a position to win and then in the final 10 minutes not doing that, but that whole second half we didn't get going," he said.
"There was nothing. That second half had no substance.
"I just think it was a case of their leadership stepping up and steering the ship, playing smart tactical football and we got frustrated with that and didn't work out a way on the field to get out of that position."
RELATED:
Robinson refused to use the absence of NSW Country representatives Shaun McHugh and Mark Baldwin as an excuse for the poor second half effort, despite it being clear their experience and know-how was lacking when the game was in the balance.
The Roos forwards still did a job without those key men for long parts of the game. Stand-in captain Will Archer again worked himself into the ground and was one of his side's best while Ben Knaggs was also immense for much of the contest at flanker, but a measured Robinson wasn't handing out too much praise after the loss.
"A few blokes stepped up there but sometimes it's not just enough to do your own job," he said.
"It's all about taking others with you and that's not what happened today, across the board.
"I don't think there'd be anyone in our team who would say they did that. That's where it's at at the moment."
While the Simon Petelo-coached Roos were left to take a look at themselves and their second half efforts, the Eagles were overjoyed when the final whistle sounded.
After a blistering start to the year the second half of the season has not been ideal for the men in red and white, and they headed to Dubbo having won just one of their past six matches.
The influential Chris Miller missed the match but a number of others were back, while leading playmakers Troy Jeffs and Gonzalo Carrizo delivered in a big way to get the Eagles back towards their best.
"It's a great win and it's great to come here and get the win," Cowra centre Bill Cummins, who scored a double and was electric throughout the game, said at full-time.
"It was great to have one of our better sides on the park this week and there was a bit of cohesion.
"We stuck at it for the full 80 and we haven't done that for a few weeks so we're feeling pumped."
- Are you a Daily Liberal subscriber? Then why not CLICK HERE and join our new Central West Sports Subscribers Facebook group?
That cohesion showed early on as the Eagles dominated the opening stages against a Roos side again a little slow to get going.
Some 50-50 calls went against the hosts early but they also didn't help themselves by giving away a number of penalties, and the Eagles made the most of it and scored the opener when Cummins went through a gap and planted the ball down under the posts.
The Roos then made their first genuine chance in Eagles territory count, with Jack Finch darting over from the back of a maul to score and the hosts soon had the lead when a strong scrum led to a Tim Beach try, and Hamish Gordon's boot making it 14-7.
But the hosts didn't have control for long as the lively Vilikesa Koilagi scooped up a loose ball and ran 55m to score to get Cowra back on track, and then a slick shift from right to left resulted in Cummins diving over to get his second.
A break from Knaggs minutes from the break led to Angus Howard nabbing a try and the Roos taking the lead again, but that proved to be the last point they scored.
The more the second half went on the more Cowra began to take control and after going close on numerous occasions in the final quarter, a strong run from Carrizo from inside his own half and some quick hands form Cummins saw winger Amani Waqabuli catch and juggle the ball before scoring out wide.
Carrizo converted and then Jeffs showed his class in the final minute when stepping off his left to score and ice the result.
"We've got some good footballers in this side," Cummins said, after saying the Eagles would "rip in to a few beers" to celebrate.
"Troy controls the game well and 'Gonzo' is dangerous as well so it's all good."
The Roos also lost fullback Anthony Golding to an upper leg injury early in the second half.
- COWRA EAGLES 33 (Bill Cummins 2, Vilikesa Koilagi, Amani Waqabuli, Troy Jeffs tries; Carrizo 4 conversions) defeated DUBBO KANGAROOS 21 (Jack Finch, Tim Beach, Angus Howard tries; Hamish Gordon 3 conversions)