Second grade ground out a hard-fought 5-nil win over the Leeton Phantoms while in first grade the scoreboard read 25-5 at the final whistle. 

The under 17s also played on Saturday getting better each week with their final score 22-10 to Leeton and tries to Coota’s Jack Stuart and Jeremy Paul. 

Injury and unavailability woes have wracked the Tricolours first grade line-up for much of the season with coach Jeff White given the task each week of finding 15 men to stand up and represent. Each week, however those who do take to the paddock do themselves and the club proud. 

On Saturday everything came together for them and they never looked troubled getting a reward for the effort they have been putting in all year. 

Conditions at Country Club Oval were what typical winter footy is all about with the ground wet and muddy, however the sun came out on the day making it a pleasant experience for spectators. 

The Coota boys handled the conditions well sticking to their game plan and getting the simple things right. 

Sloshing around in the mud is par for the course for the players who are used to a soggy playing surface at home games and many of the rugby grounds they play on, however when it came to ball control plenty of concentration was necessary. 

White said after the game the ball was like a cake of soap for the boys and he was pleased with the way they adjusted their game to combat this. 

“There was a lot of turnover ball, however we were able to handle it better,” White said. 

Once again it was the determination and strength of the forwards that came to the fore for the Tricolours with the likes of Josh Hudson, Craig Friend, Mick Purtell and Phillip Carter unrelenting against the Phantoms. 

The late inclusion of Phil Gay at fullback proved a winner for the Tricolours. 

A talented rugby player who doesn’t take to the field often anymore, Gay stepped up to help out knowing the Tricolours were short on troops. 

He slotted straight back into the swing of things, looking completely at home on Country Club Oval, even setting up a try for Tom Grace in the back end of the game. 

Playing on the wing, Grace was another who had a strong game.

Scott Friend, in his first full game of first grade, impressed White. Probably the best goal-kicker in the club at the moment, Friend landed one conversion and a penalty goal for the Tricolours. 

Playing at number seven, Jacob Leak had a good game putting plenty of pressure on the opposition. He has experienced his share of injury worries this season but back to full health looked good on Saturday pouncing every time one of the inside backs dropped the ball. 

Leak scored a quality try in the second half diving over the Leeton defence to plant the ball down. 

Overall, it was a game Coota were meant to win having beaten Leeton earlier in the year and the Phantoms languishing on the bottom of the ladder, however with numbers a problem nothing was certain. 

White said he is proud of the way the club pulled together and stood solid on the day. 

First grade will now have a fortnight off with this weekend a general bye across all Southern Inland Rugby clubs and the following weekend the Tricolours take on Deniliquin at Country Club Oval. Deniliquin does not field a first grade side, it will be seconds only in action that weekend. 

The Tricolours firsts will be back on the paddock in three weeks time against Temora in Temora for their last game of the season with Coota not in a position to play finals football this season. 

Game snapshot

First grade: Coota 25 defeated Leeton 5

Try scorers: Craig Friend, Josh Hudson, Jacob Leak and Tom Grace

Goals: Scott Friend one conversion and one penalty 

Half time score: 15-nil 

Second grade: Coota 5 defeated Leeton nil 

Try scorer: Corey Nicholson 

Half time score: 5-nil