CSU Mungoes go top of Mid West Cup ladder after Portland slaughtering

Heading into the round eight match at Diggings Oval, Portland lead the competition outright ahead of CSU Mungoes and Orange Warriors in second and third respectively.

Mungoes took a 10-0 lead at half-time, with Colts reduced to 12 men only minutes out from the break, a moment that was crucial in turning the tides for the hosts.

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CSU captain-coach Callum Flanagan was pleased with the performance.

"The game started of pretty intense, as it always does but we had our heads in the right space from the start," he said.

"We were 10-0 up coming into the half and just two minutes before the half time bell, one of their players w was gone for backchat or something pretty severe towards the referee.

"When we came out for the second half, that's when the points started piling on. Portland probably threw their heads down after we scored a few."

Following the result, CSU now has the lead on the competition ladder, tied on 12 points with Portland but the Bathurst club having a better difference by just four points.

And due to Lithgow Bears forfeiting its game to Orange United, the latter also joins CSU and Portland on 12 points, but the Warriors point difference is 60 off Colts.

Considering the context of the ladder, Flanagan knows that victory over Portland was crucial to the minor premiership race.

"That was crucial for us, taking us to first. A loss there would've put us down to third place, which would mean we'd lose a chance at hosting a grand final," he said.

"In terms of everything, it was a really crucial game for us to win."

And what'll be more interesting this coming Saturday is the clash between Portland and Warriors, which will no doubt be another crucial match in deciding the minor premiership.

All Mungoes can do is sit and hope results go in their favour, as they have the bye this Saturday, while defending premiers Oberon Tigers will play the winless Lithgow Bears.

In the women's league tag, CSU Mungals claimed a comprehensive 18-0 win over Portland Fillies, keeping the Bathurst club's undefeated record intact and needing just one more point to secure the minor premiership.

In other results, Warriors downed Bears 32-6 and Oberon secured its finals spot with a 26-6 win over Kandos.

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