IT was wet, it was muddy and it was physical, but in the end it was the Oberon Tigers who came away as 26-8 victors in Saturday's Mid West League Cup match against CSU.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Playing at home for the first time this season, the Tigers shot out to a 16-0 lead at half-time then survived a third-quarter fightback from CSU to remain undefeated.
"It was very physical, just a good, hard, clean game of footy. The conditions weren't ideal, as is quite often the way out at Oberon, but both teams adapted to that," Oberon coach Dallas Booth said.
"Both teams had parts where they dominated in the game and other parts where they lacked. We started really strongly, but to CSU's credit they came out all guns blazing in the second half.
"In the first 17 minutes of the second half we had no ball, they were all over us. But credit to our boys, we were able to claw our way back into it to get the job done."
It was Jacob Howes who opened scoring for the Tigers in the 10th minute, while Dave Sellers muscled his way over for the hosts soon after. Josh Rivett converted both to give his side a 12-0 lead.
After Sam Gascoigne darted over from dummy-half in the second quarter to make it 16-0 the Tigers looked well in control, but it was by no means game over.
CSU scored two quick tries to start the second half and with a quarter to play were back in it at 16-8.
However, Oberon was the next to score via Blake Fitzpatrick before a Zane Rowlandson try iced the Tigers' win.
Booth was pleased with how all of his men performed, but offered two in particular praise.
"Luke Christie-Johnston, he's an old fella but he was unreal. He played nearly the whole game in the front row," he said. "He had some very tough and important carries for us as well as big efforts in defence, he really held the middle of the field up for us.
"Sam Gascoigne, our halfback, his kicking game was really good as well as his direction."
For the beaten Mungoes, vice captain Joe Coady plus forwards Nik Booth, Finlay Grabham, Pat Halsey and Phil Thurgood were solid.
The Tigers coach was also impressed by what the defending premiers produced.
"It was a lot tougher game than what the scoreline showed," Booth said. "Look they're a really good side and are certainly going to be one of the sides to beat. We were just lucky enough to get away to a good start and get some points on early which proved the difference."
While there is currently some doubt if the competition will proceed following the latest advisory from NSW Health that calls for the cessation of "activities that result in mixing of participants from different regions", at this stage the Mid West League has not been cancelled.