Cougars far too strong for courageous Crocs
CASUARINA defeated Palmerston 42-26 in an absorbing encounter at Rugby Park last night.
The Cougars forward pack laid a solid foundation for the backline which is continuing to evolve with tweaks each week.
The match was just five minutes old when mercurial half-back Ryan McMurray was held up over the line and denied an early try.
From the ensuing scrum Simaika Salaa dived over in the left corner.
Zac Phillip landed the conversion for a 7-0 lead.
Casuarina’s next foray into Palmerston territory resulted in a try to Dwight Shepherd in the right corner and Phillips nonchalantly landed his second conversion.
Within minutes the Cougars were pressing the Crocs line again and Prop Forward Owen Griggs burrowed over to score and with Phillips’ conversion the lead was twentyone.
Palmerston bounced back and scored almost straight away via Ashleigh Paito which was their first real opportunity and it took almost half an hour to achieve.
Palmerston got the next try a few minutes later when veteran Brock Evan scored and what seemed destined for a walkover suddenly became a contest.
A wayward throw on an attacking line-out shortly before half time could have made it even closer than the 21-12 score-line.
Early in the second half penetrating runs by Shepherd and Joe Tuisuva had the Crocs on the back foot and when the ball went wide to the left Salaa crossed for his second and secured the Bonus Point.
The conversion from Phillips sailed over the black dot and the lead was sixteen.
Twenty minutes into the second period the Crocs showed they could also play an expansive brand of Rugby which resulted in Liam McNevin crossing wide out and a conversion to Tom Taylor followed.
Palmerston didn’t capitalise on the momentum and conceded three quick penalties which gave Casuarina field position and possession and a relatively easy try to Josh Phillips.
The Crocs came straight back with quick hands and their full-back McNevin scored his second and with Taylor’s conversion the score was 35-26
Salaa, relishing a return to the wing after more than a season in the midfield, dashed 40 metres down the touchline for this third try and effectively put the Cougars out of the reach of a gallant Palmerston outfit.
Moving Salaa to wing and Tuisuva to outside centre creates dangerous line-breaking and finishing and the Cougars have only dropped one game. Zac Phillips’ move to fly-half after the Country of Origin Match and their Round Ten clash with competition leaders South Darwin will be a gauge as to how far they will go in the Finals.
In other games yesterday, South Darwin defeated Darwin Dragons 36-7 and University Pirates overpowered Swampdogs 91-12.