Cowra’s registered its second victory of the Blowes Clothing Cup season while inflicting Forbes’ third straight loss.
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The Eagles kept Forbes scoreless for 73 minutes in the five tries to one, 29-7 drubbing at the Cowra Rugby Grounds on Saturday afternoon.
It was another “step up” for Col Jeffs’ troops who were coming off their first win of the season against Orange City.
“The wheels are in motion. If we get a win that’s great, if we get beat and play well that’s good. But each week from now has to be a step up,” Eagles coach Col Jeffs said.
“It’s gradually coming. We’re starting to believe in ourselves.”
Three first half tries gave the Eagles a 17-0 lead at the break against last year’s premiers.
Two more tries back-to-back from the restart extended the lead to 29 points with 30 minutes to play.
A few errors and penalties crept in for the hosts, however the Platypi could only manage one late consolation to reduce the winning margin to 29-7.
Jeffs was mostly pleased with his side’s set piece and again identified Tom Dewhurst and Aidan McCleary as outstanding in the middle of the park. McCleary recording a first half double.
“Our set piece was good. In the first half our scrum was very dominant, our lineout was strong and if you have a good set piece it lays the platform for the backs. Our backs played a lot smarter.
“Dewhurst and McCleary were very good. It was a positive and they showed plenty of belief. As long we’re improving each week and today was another step up.”
Forbes coach Hare Lavaka labelled his side’s performance as the worst he’s seen in three seasons.
“It was the worse performance in the last three years. I can’t take anything away from Cowra they wanted it more than us today,” he said.
“It’s a bit disappointing to see we’re not up to the standard we usually play but sometime that’s footy. We just have to move forward. Our breakdown and scrum and even our lineout we only 50-50 got the ball. You can’t win a game without the ball.
“This competition there’s no easy game.”
Cowra’s other try scorers were Jimmy Montgomery, Luke Smith and Kirk Stanbridge, while Platypi centre Hugh Willis grabbed Forbes’ only try.
The win was bittersweet for the Eagles with lock Tim Berry being stretchered off the field and into an ambulance in a neck brace after 25 minutes.
Eagles coach Col Jeffs said Berry had been discharged from hospital on Sunday after scans came back with good results.
“Losing Tim Berry was a drama, that’s a bad loss. But for the boys to be able to step up and play as well as what they did was a point of showing their mental strength which you need,” Jeffs said.
Cowra Eagles 29 (Aidan McCleary 2, Jimmy Montgomery, Luke Smith, Kirk Stanbridge tries; Jack Thurtell two conversions) bt Forbes Platypi 7 (Henry Willis try; Simon Uphill conversion)
