Cowra will be there when the whips are cracking.
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That was the general consensus from Orange Emus’ shed after the resurgent Eagles ruffled the greens’ feathers in the big way at Cowra Rugby Ground on Saturday, although the defending premiers did ultimately seal a 29-13 victory.
For much of the game the Eagles looked a real chance of handing Emus their first loss of 2017, proving they’ll cause a few headaches come finals time too – if they can sneak into fifth, that is.
However, Cowra fell away in the final 10 minutes and Emus shifted up a gear, adding 17 points in the dying stages to pad out the scoreline and seal a bonus point too.
Although explaining his side was a little skinny thanks to injuries and unavailability, Emus co-coach Jeremy Wallace took nothing away from Cowra, lauding the Eagles’ gritty showing.
“It’s easy to get a win when things are going your way, it’s much harder when a team puts it to you like Cowra did to us,” Wallace said.
“It’s something we’re not used to, they put us under pressure and we had to fight.
“We had a few players out and had to bring some players on who played out of position. It really galvanises the team when you have to do that and you get the result.”
Although over the moon with his side’s showing – a far cry from what it produced at Endeavour Oval on April 22 – Eagles coach Troy Hayes did admit to being somewhat frustrated.
After trailing 12-0 early his side had fought it’s way back to 12-8, and had more than enough opportunities to take the lead.
“We gave it to them for most of the game. They held us out despite the pressure and that’s why they’re number one in the competition,” Hayes said.
“We were in their half for the majority of the first 25 minutes of the second half and we didn’t put points on.
“A few choices were rushed a bit, it’s something we need to focus on this week.
“We did go off in the last 10 minutes and the points got away from us but it gives us something to build on.”
Emus shot to a 12-0 lead inside the opening 10 minutes, courtesy of an 80-metre intercept try to Jack Marchinton and another five-pointer for Scott McLean, one of which Nigel Staniforth converted.
To many, a blowout looked likely.
Until Cowra woke up.
The Eagles worked their way into the arm wrestle and after Sam Cooke scored in the 23rd minute, well and truly started winning it too.
Cowra enjoyed plenty of possession and territory, but some gutsy defence from the greens kept them 12-5 in front at the half-time break.
The pressure Cowra applied late in that first half didn’t let up early in the second either.
The Eagles mounted raid after raid on Emus’ line, they just couldn’t cross. Through no fault of their own, the greens’ defensively effort was as desperate as they come, and equally as impressive.
It forced Cowra to take a penalty goal when it had the chance, Troy Jeffs adding the three points to reduce Emus’ lead to four in the 65th minute.
Cowra continued threatening, but a crucial turnover forced by McLean in the 70th minute gave the greens a chance down the left edge.
Fuzzy-wuzzy winger Tom Green found space and made a beeline for the corner, but was promptly shoulder charged into touch.
Referee Richard Madden had no choice but to award a penalty try.
That’s when momentum swung. Staniforth knocked over a penalty goal three minutes later, giving Emus a two-try buffer.
Carter Hirini sealed the bonus point with a nifty try from a chip-and-chase in the 77th minute, before Jeremy Montgomery barged his way over to earn Cowra an 80th minute consolation try.
For the hosts, skipper Tom Dewhurst was magnificent on the side on the scrum, Jeremy Montgomery was strong too.
In the defending premiers’ case, Marchinton was far and away the best of the paddock, McLean wasn’t far behind in his return from injury and Staniforth was typically influential in the clutch.
ORANGE EMUS 29 (Jack Marchinton, Scott McLean, Carter Hirini tries; penalty try; Nigel Staniforth pen goal, 3 conv) def COWRA EAGLES 13 (Sam Cooke, Jeremy Montgomery tries; Troy Jeffs pen goal)