Cowra Eagles put together one of their best halves of rugby while edging out a defiant Mudgee Wombats side at the Cowra Rugby Grounds on Saturday.
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The Eagles turned a seven-point deficit at halftime into a 13-point victory in round six Blowes Clothing Cup action, keeping the Wombats – who played 20 minutes of the match with 14 men – scoreless in the second-half to win 30-17.
The result marks Cowra’s first victory of the season, coming as a relief for coach Troy Hayes.
“It’s really good to get the monkey off the back,” Hayes said.
“We were able to run a bit freer which was very pleasing.”
Despite the Eagles registering first points from a Troy Jeffs penalty goal, the visitors shot to an early 11-point lead courtesy of tries to scrum-half Lee Sandberg and flyhalf Brian O’Reilly which were both converted by James Ford.
Cowra camped themselves in Wombats’ territory for the middle part of the first half, and following a penalty resulting in the first of two Mudgee sin-binnings, the pressure paid with John Grant going across untouched at first receiver from a scrum.
A Mudgee penalty goal at the 31st minute made the lead 17-10 which remained the margin until the break.
The Wombats were forced to play the opening 10 minutes of the second period with 14 men after centre Lewis Fawcett was yellow-carded for a high-tackle on the halftime hooter.
Eagles took advantage and levelled the scores five minutes from the restart as Bill Cummins scored the first of his two for the day and Jeffs nailed the conversion.
Back to back penalties in the 53rd and 61st minute gifted Cowra a 23-17.
The victory was sealed in the 75th minute when Cummins scored on the right edge.
Jeffs maintained an unblemished goal-kicking record to give Cowra a 30-17 win.
Mudgee coach Tony Muller said the pressure resulting from two yellow cards became too much for the Wombats.
“We defended well with a man down in the first half and had to prepare to do it again in the second-half,” Muller said.
“I can’t fault what they tried out there. It told in the last 20 minutes or so that we did play with a man short for 20 minutes.
“Cowra dominated, they kept the ball and they didn’t turn the ball over. They deserved it.”
Cowra coach Troy Hayes was pleased to see his backs find some space and play with confidence.
“I think it was about being patient today. We stuck to our plan and turned it on in the second-half which is very pleasing. We spoke about throwing the ball around a bit, using the corners and playing smart. Keeping the intensity up,” he said.
Cowra Eagles 30 (Bill Cummins 2, John Grant tries; Troy Jeffs three conv, three penalty goals) defeated Mudgee Wombats 17 (Lee Sandberg, Brian O’Reilly; James Ford two conv, penalty goal).
