Cockatoos Retain Maher Ross Cup

[najmulislam2012seo]

Cockatoos 2014The GrainCorp NSW Country Cockatoos have retained the Maher Ross Cup with a three tries to one 20 – 10 victory over NSW Subbies at Terrigal.

As has been the case in previous encounters the match was an arm wrestle from the kick off until the full time whistle, and the healthy crowd at The Haven Oval were treated to some entertaining Rugby.

Subbies had first use of a steady north easterly breeze in the first half, but it was the Cockatoos who had the better of the play in the opening ten minutes, and they should have taken an early lead, but a short ranged penalty kick was wide of the mark.

Subbies defence held and the first time they ventured into the phone number library Cockatoos half they were rewarded when five eight Dan Kelly kicked a thirty metre penalty goal to take a 3 - 0 lead following a Cockatoos’ infringement at the breakdown.

Subbies maintained the pressure and had the opportunity to go further ahead when the Cockatoos were again penalised, but the easy kick was waved away and the score remained unchanged.
Subbies picked up the pace and went on the attack, which saw the Cockatoos having to scramble in defence close to their line on several occasions. The big Subbies pack was starting to get a roll on, which enabled their backs to mount sweeping raids. One of these should have resulted in a try when the inclusion of an extra man created an overlap, but the final pass went to ground with the try line wide open.

The Cockatoos defence continued to hold, with a highlight being the fierce contest for the ball at the breakdown. A turnover was eventually achieved resulting in Man of the Match and flanker Josh Stewart making a fifty metre bust, which was carried on by a series of pick and drives before centre Filisone Pauta powered over for an unconverted try for the Cockatoos to take the lead 5 - 3.
Play for the next fifteen minutes was centred between the twenty twos with both sides testing each other out, but Subbies were the ones who eventually broke the deadlock. A line out win saw a driving maul scatter the Cockatoos forwards and back-rower Jake Wainwright came up with a try. The conversion from the sideline by Dan Kelly saw Subbies take a 10 – 5 lead, and it looked as if the momentum of the match had swung Subbies way.