THE CSU Mungoes celebrated their 40th anniversary in mixed fashion on Saturday with their Yellow side staying on top of the Centennial Coal Cup, while the Blue side suffered a loss.
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In an eventful match, the Yellow team led from start to finish to claim a 34-16 win over Kandos, who, to their credit, did well to stay in the match after slipping behind 30-6 early in the second half.
A rowdy section of the hill at Diggings Oval at one point had to be asked to move because of some over-enthusiastic support, as a host of past players returned for the anniversary celebrations.
The win cemented the Yellow team’s place above fellow competition heavyweights Blackheath, and required big efforts from the forwards in particular.
“We were without a few players, [prop] Evan Jones had a severe migraine that meant he couldn’t play and a few others were unavailable, so we basically had no replacement forwards on the bench,” CSU co-president James Dunston said.
“In terms of the scoreboard, it probably looks like a comfortable win, but it wasn’t easy for the boys, the 13 that started and the few that filled in, deserve a big round of applause for the way they played.”
Earlier the Blue side were hoping to upset the in-form Blackheath Black Cats outfit but after a spritely start, quickly started to lose ground and went down 40-16.
“They are a little bit inconsistent at the moment, the Blue side,” Dunston said.
“They have a capable side but can’t seem to string together those two or three wins that will get them up the ladder. They have a good win one week and then come out and cop a hiding.
“It was a tough day for them in terms of injuries, four players in total ended up having to get x-rays – two knees, an ankle and a wrist, so they battled.
“But at any rate it wasn’t a great performance, they turned up for the first 10 minutes or so and then really switched off.”
Dunston was pleased with the turn out for the celebration and the function that followed, saying that it was the sort of event which kept the club moving forward.
“Days like today, from the club’s executive point of view, are the reason you get involved in a club like this and what makes it great to be part of the Mungoes,” he said.
“To see all the old players on the hill, and hear their support was great and I certainly think it lifted the players, especially when they were starting to battle a bit with injuries.”
