By Geoff Newling

Wee Waa Panthers will play their first home games of the season at Cook Oval this Sunday when they host the Boggabri Kangaroos in ladies league tag and first grade fixtures.

They enter round three searching for their first wins in both grades after a round one bye and losses away from home against the Kootingal-Moonbi Roosters and Werris Creek Magpies in rounds two and three.

A ruthless Werris Creek side showed no mercy on a gutsy Panthers outfit in the first grade game at David Taylor Park on Sunday as the hosts ran away with a 60-0 victory.

The Magpies led 44-nil at the halftime break and continued on in the same vein in the second half as they piled on 16 more unanswered points before the match ended in the 65th minute under the mercy rule.

Winger Nathanael Slater finished the game with a hat-trick, and eight other Magpies also crossed for tries.

Magpies coach Dave Stewart was delighted with the combinations and structures his side showed.

“We played 65 minutes today, I was happy with 50 minutes,” Stewart told Group 4 Media.

“The other 15 minutes we were poor, got away from our structure.

“I was impressed by our ruthlessness though in defence. We need to be ruthless against the good sides.”

Wee Waa’s co-coach Matt Freeman was far from disappointed with his young side’s display in what was their second game of the year.

“We took a step forward today,” he told Group 4 Media.

“Our first 20 minutes was good, we played very simple and played well until fatigue set in.”

Freeman said when the 60-point mercy rule point was reached his players wanted to keep going.

“They all tried hard,” he added.

Hooker Hayden Endicott impressed throughout the match. His service from dummy half was crisp and swift and could have led to a try for a teammate at one stage. His defence was also impressive.

Panthers winger David Gligorevic excelled on debut in what was his first game of rugby league.

Second-rower Saxon Paulston was another to earn praise from his coach.

“He played 60 minutes and tackled everything,” Freeman said.

Returning to Group 4 after a seven-year absence is a huge task for the Panthers, and being able to compete against the match-hardened sides will take time, with match fitness still and issue for the Wee Waa men.

“We’re at home against Boggabri next week. Our first home game and we’re hoping for a big crowd,” Freeman said.

The Group 4 scoreboard from the games at David Taylor Park on Sunday are as follows:

First grade: Werris Creek 60 (Nathanael Slater 3, Dylan Porter, Harlee Millgate, Charlie Parsons, Riley Leonard, Thomas Brown, Zac Leonard, Wes Riley, Mitchell Cox tries, Mitch Doring 8 goals) def Wee Waa 0. Group 4 best and fairest: 3 Dylan Porter (WC), 2 Mitch Doring (WC), 1 Mitchell Cox (WC).

Under-18s: Werris Creek 52 (Lance Latham 2, Toby Robinson 2, Lawson Thompson, Harrison Parker, Ty Weckert, Matthew Beattie, Darcy Weatherall, Luke Jeffrey tries, Darcy Weatherall 6 goals) def Wee Waa 10 (Brodie Slee, Hayden Caterer tries, Clay Hoffman goal). Group 4 best and fairest: 3 Luke Jeffrey (WC), 2 Darcy Weatherall (WC), 1 Kaidin Hamilton (WW).

Ladies league tag: Werris Creek 60 (Mia Cloake 3, Maya Patterson 3, Erica Lawrence 2, Dayna Porter 2, Jodi Howarth, Tanika Darcy tries, Cloake 6 goals) def Wee Waa 0. Group 4 best and fairest: 3 Mia Cloake (WC), 2 Dakota Welsh (WW), 1 Maya Patterson (WC).

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