AN improved second half allowed Cowra to start their Blowes Clothing Cup season with a win, toppling Orange City 15-3.
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It was a scrappy opening half from both sides but tightly contested, as expected in the season opener.
The second half was a different game as the Eagles monstered the Lions in the scrum and dominated field position to put on 12 unanswered points for the victory.
Cowra coach Colin Kilby admitted his players were blowing out the cobwebs but he was still impressed with their performance.
"We didn't really stick to our structures in the first half but with the wind against us, to hold them to no points (in the second half) was pleasing," Kilby said.
The Eagles put points on the board first when fullback Gonzarlo Carizzo kicked a penalty goal seven minutes in.
Cowra was impressive in the breakdown, pinching the ball on more than one occasion, and stifling a number of Orange City attacking raids down the right side.
The scores were levelled at 3-all after Keegan Harding kicked the Lions' only points for the game 20 minutes into the first half.
Cowra looked to have taken the lead eight minutes later but hooker Conor Lamond's try was denied for obstruction.
The second half was a different game with Cowra's discipline improving and their size advantage in the forwards paying dividends.
"We knew that if we could be a bit more direct and get the forwards through the middle it would open up, which it did," Kilby explained.
Flanker Tom Dewhurst was first to score for the Eagles, crashing through a small gap after repeat phases, with Carizzo's conversion giving the Eagles a 10-3 lead.
In the 56th minute, outside centre Navitala Bola, who was dangerous all game, worked off the forwards and managed to score.
Cowra spent the majority of the second period in City's half but couldn't add to the scoreline, with Lions coach Viv Paasi praising his side's second-half defensive effort.
"I know that Cowra are meant to be a good side this year so I couldn't be more proud of how they defended and did everything they could," Paasi said.
- COWRA 15 (Tom Dewhurst, Navitala Bola tries, Gonzarlo Carizzo conv, pen goal) def ORANGE CITY 3 (Keegan Harding pen goal)
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