THE worst of Saturday's weather held off until kick-off of the main event at Sid Kallas Oval where the Cowra Magpies took on Bathurst Panthers in round two of the Group 10 season.
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Tries to Warren Williams either side of the break sparked victory for the home side who were relatively unfazed by the wet conditions.
Panthers are now none from two to start the new season and will be desperate for victory on Friday when they take on local rivals St Pat's.
Both coaches admitted the Magpies' ability to complete sets was the main difference in the black and whites' 18-6 win.
"Very pleasing. Given the circumstances I thought we handled the ball really well actually," Cowra Magpies mentor Steve Sutton said.
"It was pretty atrocious conditions but we probably handled it better, made less mistakes and that reflects on the scoreboard."
Panthers' captain-coach Todd Barrow said his side still had a lot to work on but he commended their effort.
"It was wet going out in the middle, it was pretty hard to find your feet. I think [Cowra] just held onto the ball better than us," Barrow said.
"They looked after the footy pretty well and got through their sets. Their completion rate was probably a lot higher then ours. Full credit to them, they were too good."
The Magpies struck first in the 17th minute when hooker Dan McGann crashed over beside the uprights after a lengthy attacking raid from the home side.
Panthers' left side defence was again found vulnerable when Jack Nobes' short ball was picked up by a flying Warren Williams who dragged several defenders 15 metres to the line for the first of his two for the day.
Toi Sepuloni added the extras for a 10-0 lead after 25 minutes. Sepuloni's radar was again successful when a penalty on the half-time siren allowed the Magpies to take a 12-0 lead into the break.
Panthers' only opportunity in the half was disallowed when centre Blake Lawson was judged off-side to a Joey Bugg kick in the 18th minute.
The second half began in the Magpies' favour when they increased their lead to 18 after Williams grabbed his second try in similar fashion to his first.
Panthers' busy half-back Bugg scored soon after in the 55th minute but that was his side's only try of the day. The match ended 18-6 with Cowra scoring three tries to one.
Steve Sutton praised Williams' performance after the match and was impressed with Cowra's defence.
"Warren Williams was very powerful and got across the line a couple of times. He was probably the difference in the end," Sutton said.
"Young Andy Kelleher off the bench caused four or five turnovers in the second half, it [defence] is something we've worked on during pre-season. It was a bit disappointing to concede a try but it was a very pleasing defensive effort."
Barrow was obviously disappointed with the result but he is confident his side can produce wins if they continue to put in similar efforts.
"I'm pretty happy with how the boys turned up today. There were a couple of little errors at crucial times that cost us but the effort was there. If the boys keep turning up like they did today a win wont be far away," he said.
COWRA MAGPIES 18 (Warren Williams 2, Dan McGann tries; Toi Sepuloni 3 goals) defeated BATHURST PANTHERS 6 (Joey Bugg try, Blake Lawson goal)