In two very close games over the weekend, the Canowindra Tigers had mixed results with the first grade going through to the final against Manildra next Saturday with a 24-20 win over Orange United but unfortunately the Tigresses bowed out of the competition with a loss to Cowra 6–0.
The Canowindra Tigers went to extra time before they actually reached the front in this game with a try to take the lead 24-20 and hold on to the win against Orange United.
The Tigers, in good field position made many mistakes, letting United off-the-hook and limiting their opportunities to score.
United scored first in the 15th minute from a Tigers mistake to lead 6-0. Orange United went further ahead with another converted try 12-0. It wasn’t till later in the half the Tigers scored with a try to Josh Cooney to reduce lead to 12-4 at the break.
In the second half, Orange United were first to score out wide from some soft defence by the Tigers to increase their lead to 16-4. United went further ahead with another try in the 63rd minute, which wasn’t converted to lead 20-4. With 12 minutes remaining on the clock Canowindra put on a good move, swinging back to the blindside to pick up Ryan Clarke to score in the corner and reduce the score to 20 points to 10. Two minutes later Cooney burst onto the ball breaking through the middle and ran 40 metres to the try line, which was converted to take the score 20-16. The Tigers gained the upper hand with only minutes to go and finally played some really good football that tired the defence of Orange United, moving the big forwards around and creating holes.
In a good backline movement, Sam Neale went over to score out wide to lock-up the game at 20 all. The conversion hit the cross bar and the team’s went into extra time.
Canowindra were looking the best team in the closing stages and scored a try in the 85th minute to lead 24-20, then held out the opposition in dying minutes.
League Tag The Canowindra Tigresses defended extremely well against the Cowra side with Cowra having a majority possession early in the second half. Cowra moved the ball well, constantly putting pressure on Canowindra’s defence. The Tigeresses had opportunities to score but the footy god’s weren’t on their side. A big thanks for the coaching staff for their time during the year. Cowra go on to play Manildra this Saturday in Manildra.