Juniors impress in Cooma Oval classic

Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League and South Sydney District Junior Rugby League went head-to-head in an annual junior league match at Cooma Oval on Wednesday afternoon.

The visiting Souths side won a hard-fought game 18-12.

The Narrabri team was made up of under-13-15 players, which took on a South Sydney under-14s select side.

South Sydney led the contest 6-0 at half-time of the 50-minute match.

Both sides scored 12 points each in the second stanza which saw South Sydney claim the six-point victory.

Blues coach Adam Hennessy said that he was proud of his team, especially its defence.

“They played very well in this game,” Hennessy told The Courier.

“We were a lot better than we were this season.

“The 13s players that stepped up did really, really well. To play against 14-year-olds from Sydney they did awesomely.

“We were also pretty awesome in defence. Defensively the first 15 minutes was phenomenal, especially to keep them out for so long, actually they only scored one try in the first half and had 90 per cent possession.”

Narrabri’ two tries were both brilliant individual efforts which were scored by Daniel McMillan and Gus Smith.

Gus and Jamarl Zarka both kicked one conversion each.

South Sydney’s Ben Loper went over for a double with a try either side of half-time, and teammates Najib Mehdi and Laith Miller also scored a try each while Kaleb McGregor kicked the side’s only goal.

Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League hosted a barbecue and presentation after the match where a best back and best forward were named from both sides.

Narrabri’s Joel Neader was named his side’s best forward, and teammate Jamarl Zarka was selected as best back.

For the South Sydney side Ben Loper was chosen as best forward and teammate Kaleb McGregor was named best back.

The two teams showed great sportsmanship after the game. The two teams showed great sportsmanship after the game.

Gus Smith converts the try scored by Daniel McMillan. Gus scored Narrabri’s second try minutes later. Gus Smith converts the try scored by Daniel McMillan. Gus scored Narrabri’s second try minutes later.

Daniel McMillan dives over for Narrabri’s first try after beating five defenders during a solid run. Daniel McMillan dives over for Narrabri’s first try after beating five defenders during a solid run.

Joel Neader, who was named Narrabri’s best forward in Wednesday’ match, charges forward as teammate Chris Clark, behind, watches on. Joel Neader, who was named Narrabri’s best forward in Wednesday’ match, charges forward as teammate Chris Clark, behind, watches on.

Lachlan Young launches into a tackle to take down a South Sydney ball-runner. Lachlan Young launches into a tackle to take down a South Sydney ball-runner.

It took three defenders to stop a charging Cohen Tout as he set his sights on the tryline. It took three defenders to stop a charging Cohen Tout as he set his sights on the tryline.

Riley Lamb charges forward as he attempts to break the tackle of two South Sydney defenders. Riley Lamb charges forward as he attempts to break the tackle of two South Sydney defenders.

Chris Clark, right, wraps up a much bigger Souths player around the legs as teammate Baxter Capp prepares to help out. Chris Clark, right, wraps up a much bigger Souths player around the legs as teammate Baxter Capp prepares to help out.

The Blues defended extremely well in the opening exchanges of the game especially on their own tryline, but gave away possession and field position on several occasions through penalties or mistakes.

The home side impressed as it kept the travelling team scoreless for the first 14 minutes of the game.

However in the 15th minute the pressure finally mounted on the Narrabri boys when Souths charged over for their first try of the game which they converted to make the score 6-0.

Both sides battled hard during the final 10 minutes of the first half, but neither could add to the scoreline which meant that at half-time Souths led the game 6-0 following 25 minutes of play.

In the second half it took the visitors just two minutes to cross as they went over in the right corner to make the score 10-0.

By the half-hour mark Souths had scored another try to go ahead 14-0.

But the Blues hit back eight minutes into the second half when Daniel McMillan charged over for his team’s first four-pointer following a huge run after his team won a penalty 10 metres out from the line.

After taking the ball from the tap Daniel brushed off five Souths defenders to go over for a brilliant solo try which was scored a metre to the right of the right upright and allowed Gus Smith to convert a simple kick to make the score 14-6.

From the next set the Narrabri boys almost scored again but a mistake 20 metres out during a brilliant breaking play saw Narrabri cough up possession.

It was not long before the home side made its way back into its attacking 20 metres, and in the 38th minute the Blues went over for their second try.

Gus Smith picked up the ball from dummy half 10 out from the tryline and fooled the Souths defence with a dummy and explosive change of direction before charging through two defenders and diving over to score next to the right upright.

Jamarl Zarka added the extras with a simple conversion to make the score 14-12.

A remarkable comeback looked likely for a resurgent Narrabri side.

However, the Blues dropped the ball following the restart and Souths made them pay with a try in the following set to make the score 18-12.

That was the way the score remained when the full time bell sounded as the visiting Souths side held on to win by six points.