THREE penalty goals from Ben Strachan’s reliable boot was the difference between winning and losing for the Gorillas when they came away with a 28-24 victory over the Dubbo Roos at Cale Oval on Saturday.
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The first round of the Blowes Clothing Cup competition was highlighted with a number of upset results headed by the 19-3 defeat of Parkes to Orange City. Orange Emus were also on the money with a 25-6 win over Bulldogs while Rhinos showed their best form for three seasons with a 29-10 win over Forbes. The students at Bathurst got the points 38-22 at the expense of Cowra.
The game at Narromine had a good mix of defence and bright attacking play and, while the Roos came up with four tries to three, it was the Gorillas who enjoyed the post match drinks most after Ben Strachan’s kicking made the difference.
In the grand final last year, on the same ground, Strachan’s goal-kicking was sadly amiss and Parkes got the better of them in the one game that counted most. The big prop wasn’t about to let that happen again.
While Craig Duff scored the first try and gave Narromine an early advantage, the home side was forced to come back four times to land the win.
Luke Brown, who is sharing the coaching duties this season with last year’s best and fairest player Rowan Gardiner, was one of the best on ground while hooker Dan Maroulis and Craig Campbell in the scrum were strong.
A feature for both teams was their ability to come back from deficits and no doubt the coaching staff from both teams would have been happy with that aspect of their performances.
The biggest difference all day was eight points when, during the second half, Charlie McInnes scored and Strachan converted for a 25-17 lead.
Two tries to rookie winger Mitchell Gersback for the Roos, from moves inside their own half, featured for the visitors. Their defence was strong and their lineouts well executed.
Coach Gus McDonald said the pleasing aspect of the afternoon was the courage of the players.
“We run into a lot of injuries at crucial times and in turn you can lose your structure. Last year when that happened we would concede tries, that didn’t happen at Narromine so that’s a real plus for us and shows that our club strength will be good,” he said.
“Unfortunately two of those injuries were to reliable goal kickers Tim Berry and Kieran Smith, so that didn’t help us either.
“And you have to remember that we had Peter Nau, Ned Williams and Josh Dodd away with Country.”
# Narromine Gorillas 28 (Craig Duff, Sam Burgess, Charlie MacInnes tries; Ben Strachan 3 penalty goals, 2 conversions) def Dubbo Roos 24 (Mitchell Gersbach 2, Mark Peteru, Brad Pugh tries; Fabian Tago 2 conversions).
Roos players player: Michell Gersbach.
Best Fairest: 3 Mitchell Gersbach, 2 Junior Manase and Brad Pugh; 1 Sam Martel.
