Coota’s Matt Berkrey attempts to fend off Harden’s James Wallis.
The top of the table clash between the Cootamundra Tri-Colours and the Harden Red Devils met the expectations of the crowd with the Tri-Colours taking out the clash with a 34-27 victory over the Devils. The game started with a frenetic pace with both sides testing the opposition’s line. Harden were first on the board with a penalty goal to Ben Lenehan and a 3 point lead. Harden extended their lead to 10 nil after a try to Lenehan which he then converted.
The Coota forwards let the Harden forwards know that they had a weight advantage in the scrum and they punished Harden early. Harden’s Toby Haydon was flying high in the lineout alongside Jim Honner, however, Coota’s Hooker Darryl Hemopo was starting to cause the Devil’s some problems with his barnstorming runs.
Coota’s Aaron Byrne was directing traffic well with the assistance of big Inside Centre Matt Berkrey and this helped open up tries for Pita Herangi, Teakatauira Matapo and Hemopo. With another penalty goal to Harden the Devils found themselves behind 13-15. The second stanza saw two sides push each other to the brink. Mitchell Coleman crossed for a converted try and this put the Tri-Colours ahead 22-13.
The Harden scrum mixed a few things up and at one stage found themselves driven back and upside down. They quickly turned this around by driving Coota backwards, something normally not seen in the space of 2 scrums.
Ben Lenehan took an intercept on his own 22 and was guided to the line by his outside backs Jack O’Connor and Josh Quinn. Lenehan converted his own try and made things a little closer. When Jacob Chandler dived over for Harden the crowd was in for a grand stand finish.
Harden’s Henry Messner was having a blinder of a game at 6 and popped up all over the paddock to save the day with his defence. Harden’s Gus Shea is improving at a rapid rate and it looks as though he will be a force to be reckoned with in the front row come seasons end, if he keeps working hard.
With the scores at 27-29 in favour of the Tri-Colours, the Coota men kept the ball tight with Berkrey hitting it up in the centre of the field to control possession.
Coota proved too strong in the end when Robert Scott dived over in the corner and the final whistle blew with Coota 34 Harden 27.
Lenehan scored 2 tries, kicked 3 conversions and 2 penalties for a haul of 22 points, while Jacob Chandler scored a try. Points went to Henry Messner 3, James Wallis 2 and Tom Lenehan 1. For Coota, tries went to Herangi, Matapo, Hemopo, Coleman and Scott. Berkrey kicked 3 conversions and a long range penalty goal. Harden play Temora at home this weekend.
