COOTAMUNDRA Bulldogs rewrote the record books this week with a thumping 76-6 home victory over Junee Diesels.
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It proved a successful weekend for the hosts with reserve grade, league tag and under 16s all recording wins, but it was first grade who stole the headlines with a resounding display that had the halftime scoreboard reading an astonishing 50-0.
The game began with a touching tribute from Clive Miller for the late Bernie Walsh, who played for both Junee and Cootamundra in his successful league career.
A moment of silence was impeccably observed by both teams and all present in the grounds.
The Dogs wasted no time from kick-off, scoring within the first set of six following a combination of overlapping runs and passes down the right-hand flank.
Calls of “they got lucky” and “they didn’t earn that” could be heard from the Junee bench, but the Dogs soon silenced the nonbelievers with a string of successive tries that left the visitors stunned.
The Old Boys watching from the grandstand couldn’t believe the display, remarking at halftime they’d never seen a scoreline like it.
Whilst Junee did get on the scoresheet eventually through a driving run from their big number 10 it was clear first grade enjoyed themselves.
Matt Forsyth led the scoring with a try and an impressive 10 goals, whilst Jordyn Ballard managed three tries and Mick Glanville two.
Earlier in the afternoon reserve grade clinched a narrow victory courtesy of a last-minute error from the opposition.
The teams went in to the break with four points apiece and Coota scored right under the dot within the first play of the second half, Andrew Bucknell converting to make it 10-4.
They worked hard for the remainder of the match and kept the visitors at bay through some crucial defending on the line, but with less than 90 seconds remaining Junee finally broke through just a few yards out from the posts.
With the final play of the day though the kicker failed to capitalise and the reserves walked off with a hard fought 10-8 victory.
Earlier in the day the ladies league tag recorded a 30-8 victory, Renae Glanville impressing with three tries and a goal.
The under 18s went down 16-10, and the under 16s started the day with another impressive win, beating Junee 46-16.
