By Tania Phillips
The undefeated Cowboys could end up with an unscheduled bye this weekend with opponents Newton having trouble fielding an A grade team – forfeiting their Toowoomba Rugby League match at against second-placed Gatton at the weekend.
Cowboys coach Col Speed said they would find out by today if Newton would have a team for their clash.
He said what ever happens with the game, there would still be football at Father Ranger Oval on Saturday night with the Clydesdales due to play Burleigh in the QRL’s Hostplus Cup game in town.
It would be a well-earned rest for the Cowboys who have been in scintillating form this season and remain undefeated after 11 rounds of the TRL Hutchinson Builders A Grade and reserve grade competitions.
At the weekend they proved too strong for the improving Brother’s outfit running in eight tries to two for a 40-10 victory in the A grade competition.
While they have had been slow to start in many of their early games this season for the second game in a row they were quick out of the gates with tries in the second, ninth, tenth, 13th and 25th minutes earning praise from their coach, and new Qld country mentor, Col Speed.
“It was good, we utilised a couple of players, it was a bit of a rotation and we gave a couple of blokes the opportunity to have a bit of a spell due to work commitments, injuries and suspensions,” he said.
“It was good for other blokes to get an opportunity.
“I was very happy with the way we started. We went out and completed nine from nine sets and we executed some really good tries. Brother’s scored off a couple of soft kicks. But I’m really happy with the boys defence and commitment to stay on track.
“On the other side of that we have to give Brothers some credit, they played some really good footy. They have a lot of potential there and they’ll beat a few sides on the way home at the back end of the year.
“But I’m really happy with how our boys started, it was just the game management in the second half and a few little areas we need to work on for when we have the foot on the throat in regards to finishing teams off. But we’ll get better at that and we look forward to the next couple of weeks.”
The Cowboys went into the game without Josh Robinson who is still on suspension but he’ll be back in time for Highfields in round 13 and Pat Conn who is away on representative duties.
However despite the missing players there were plenty of stars.
“Nick Chapman was outstanding, he got players player,” Speed said.
“Mitch Wilson got man of the match, Harry Sullivan got best forward.”
The team has been getting plenty of forward momentum something that increased in recent weeks.
“We have changed in the past couple of weeks, we decided to go direct instead of going lateral early,” the coach explained.
“So, we’re going direct and then just play on the front foot after we’ve made good metres down the middle and won the ball down the middle, which is good. We’re capitalising on the go forward.”
The coach has his fingers crossed that they will play Newtown, who are last on the ladder just behind Oakey with one win from eleven rounds this season.
“We are due to play the curtain raiser to the Host Plus cup this Saturday though we aren’t sure what’s going on with Newton just yet,” he said.
“There are a few stories going around but hopefully they can keep a team together and we’ll get a game against them which would be good. They’re struggling for numbers in A grade at this stage, they forfeited at the weekend.”
A Grade: Cowboys V Brothers round 11: Cowboys 40: Tries: Hayden Ensbey 2nd minute, Jake Speed 9, Joseph Vite 10, Jake Speed 13, Nicholas Chapman 25, Jone Rarabalavu 46, Harry Sullivan 63 and Jone Rarabalavu 70. Conversions: Caleb Murphy 4/8.
Brothers: 10: Garrad Brewer 33rd, Tony Clevin 55. Conversions: Tony Clevin 1/2.
Reserve Grade: Cowboys 60: Tries Jeffrey Ross 4, Mitchell McMahon 6, Not available 11, Mitchell McMahon 14, Angus Ridley 15, Not available 27, Not available 33, Nicholas Pails 47, Matthew Henry 50, William Howard 54, Matthew Henry 57 and Lance McGrady Dennison 69.
Brothers: 0.
