CSU narrowly avoid a second week of heartbreak

WHEN Mudgee Wombats winger James Ford lined up for a late conversion attempt at University Oval on Saturday afternoon, CSU were facing a heartbreaking Central West Rugby Union defeat for the second consecutive week.

But unlike the round eight match where a late penalty goal saw Narromine post a 27-26 win over CSU, the attempt from Ford was waved away.

Instead of the Wombats snatching a one-point victory, CSU survived to win 20-19. It was the students second success of what has been a frustrating season thus far.

"We deserved a bit of a change in luck and we got it with that missed kick. It's tough for the young fellah [Ford], but we deserved that bit of luck this week," CSU coach Pip McIntosh said.

"Both teams went hard at it. Even though the pitch looks solid it's quite greasy underneath, so both teams did well on it. It was a solid slog, both teams had their chances but we held on.

"Hopefully it's a turning point. Hopefully now we can go over to Parkes and get on a bit of a roll."

Cam Backhouse scored in the left corner inside the first five minutes on Saturday to get the students off to an excellent start in wet conditions.

But their joy was short lived as Wombats centre Daniel Niumata and fullback Corban Selwyn both picked out gaps in CSU's defence to score and hand their team a 14-5 lead.

Momentum swung again as the hosts started get on top inside the last 10 minutes of the half and found reward for their efforts.

CSU flyhalf Jack Keppel picked out Lachlan Robinson on the right wing with a smart kick and he scored to cut the gap back to four.

Keppel was involved in another CSU try soon after as his intercept helped set up Will Sears. It meant the students took a 17-14 lead into half-time.

When play resumed and rain started to fall once more, both teams struggled to maintain possession and spread the ball. It took more than half an hour for another addition to the scoreline.

It came from the Wombats - who had turned down an earlier penalty goal attempt and failed to score the try they were hoping for as they were punished for not releasing.

Their breakthrough came when scrum-half Cameron Rosamond dived over close to the left corner post. It put his side within one point of the lead with the kick to come.

But that kick missed the mark and triggered celebrations from CSU supporters and players.

Wombats coach Luke Morris said it was the fact his side weren't able to build up enough momentum on the back of their two first half tries which cost them.

"I think we probably had the better field position, but I think we probably lost it in the first half. There was a bit of a breeze with us there in that first half and we ended up going into the break trailing. We got off to a bad start with their quick try and we were back-pedalling from there," he said.

"I was a bit worried there at half-time. They were in front, had the breeze and had a good kicking game, but our fellahs dug deep. There were just a few turnovers at crucial times and credit to them, CSU played out of their skins and defended really well."

CSU 20 (Cam Backhouse, Lachlan Robinson, Will Sears tries; Jack Keppel penalty; Jack Keppel conversion) defeated MUDGEE WOMBATS 19 (Daniel Niumata, Corban Selwyn, Cameron Rosamond tries; James Ford 2 conversions)