Undefeated competition leaders Orange CYMS proved too strong for Cowra’s Under 15 side 26-12 River Park on Saturday. While the result didn’t go the young Magpies’ way, the match showed onlookers that Cowra are not far off the pacesetters in a display that impressed coach Rodney Eastwood.
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“After our last start, we were looking to improve defensively and I think we did that,” he said.
“I felt the boys held their own, particularly against a glut of possession and territory in the first half.”
The inability to control the ball hampered the Magpies in the early stages who were pinned guarding their line in the opening exchanges. CYMS managed to convert this into points through two unconverted tries but that was all they could muster with Cowra fighting back to see some of the opposition half going into the break.
Jaylan Simpson’s try shortly after the resumption, together with Ky Johnson’s conversion, had Cowra firmly entrenched in the contest at 8-6 down. However, failure to get on the wayward restart gave CYMS an opportunity which they grabbed.
The visitors took advantage of the momentum swing scoring a further two converted tries to extend the lead to 26-6.
The Magpies clawed their way back with heightened energy levels. Interchange utility Luke Kinsey barged his way over on the stroke of full time with Johnson adding the extras.
“You can’t afford to invite teams of that quality into the game with lapses of concentration,” Eastwood said. “If we can eliminate those from our game, we have the ability to be a top four contender.”