RUGBY LEAGUE
Let’s go, Tigers.
Canowindra's Woodbridge Cup campaign returns to Tom Clyburn Oval this weekend, after disappointment for first grade in the opening round of the 2025 finals.
Sunday’s clash of the Tigers saw Oberon dominate on their home ground, winning 45-10.
Canowindra to host Orange United Warriors this Saturday for the opportunity to advance to the next round.
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Our league tag side had a win to see them on the road to take on Cowra Sunday, but our youth league’s season has ended with a loss.
FIRST GRADE
Tigers were down nine of their senior squad heading into Sunday’s qualifier, and a number of Under 18s backed up from their own game in Manildra to sit on the bench for the first grade.
Oberon scored within three minutes of kick-off in Sunday’s clash in a less-than-ideal start, but Canowindra snapped straight back to level the scores at 6-6 seven minutes in to the game.
A beautiful ball from Wally Gaeta out to Jonty Thurgate saw the winger run 20 metres and score in the corner.
Tigers had plenty of possession in these early stages and John Grant put them in the lead 18 minutes in when he put a grubber down to see Canowindra in front 6-10.
Oberon was next to seize an opportunity, and ran in a second soft try to have a half-time lead of 18-10.
The second half opened with Tigers down a player due to a sin binning and Oberon made the most of it – running in three tries in 10 minutes to take hold of the game.
Tigers pushed themselves hard and made some promising plays, but Oberon ran in a few late tries and added a field goal on full time for a final score of 45-10.
LEAGUE TAG
Canowindra’s Tigresses have dominated their elimination semi-final with a 26-8 win in the league tag over Grenfell to earn themselves another game in Cowra, against Cowra.
Laura Price, who bagged her hat trick for the match, opened the scoring for Canowindra in cool conditions at Oberon on Sunday.
Adison Newcombe sprinted 40m before sending the ball back into the centre to Price who scored near the post to see Canowindra lead 4-0 10 minutes into the match.
Lily Bannan extended that to 8-nil when she went round the fullback to cross the line with 12 minutes to go in the first half.
Price made her second just a few minutes later, skirting down the short side and cleverly evading Grenfell’s fullback to score under the posts, with the conversion making it 14-0.
There were just minutes to half time and the Tigresses were putting in some good work in defence, but the Girlannas went through for their first to see the half time score 14-4.
They seized an opportunity and narrowed the gap to 14-8 early in the second half but that was as far as the Tigresses were going to let them go.
Canowindra was on the attack again and Taleitha O’Byrne pounced on a kick from the last tag to give Canowindra a 20-8 lead.
Price sealed the deal when she swooped on the ball, found open spaces on the edge and sprinted 70m to put it down under the post.
Bannan’s conversion made it 26-8 and earned Tigresses another game, they travel to Cowra on Sunday.
YOUTH LEAGUE
Scores were locked at full time but it was the young Rhinos who survived Sunday’s youth league elimination semi-final at Manildra.
Kaiden Cole ran in two tries for Canowindra, Jason McCann and Noah Brown one apiece, to see the scores level at 20-20 when the full time whistle sounded.
Cooper Breen scored in extra time to thrill the Tigers’ supporters, but the Rhinos responded late and the conversion gave them the advantage with the final score 26-24.
This sees the young Tigers’ 2025 campaign come to an end, and the club particularly appreciates those who immediately got on the road to Oberon to sit on the bench for the first grade side.
