A third of the way through the ten-club First Division Rugby competition, the Narromine Gorillas are fifth on the club championship ladder, fourth in each of the two senior grades, third in Colts, and very glad Orange City hasn’t scored a bonus point in Thirds.

Our games against Cowra at Royal Cale Oval last Saturday May 10 helped our cause tremendously, and produced some entertaining rugby.

The Colts hit the ground running against last year’s Premiers: 12-0 after 10 minutes, courtesy of tries to Tim Beady and Sam McLeod (a great ball from Sebastian Zumbo!), and a conversion by Henry Buttsworth.

By halftime, it was 19-14 to the Gorillas: two strong team tries, both converted, by Cowra, and a bullocking try to Jacob McNaught (converted again by Buttsworth). Two converted tries to Narromine (McLeod for his quinella, and Zumbo) were offset by one to Cowra: 33-19.

McLeod had played a ripper, while Sam Cochrane tackled strongly as usual, and Kale Bock directed traffic and kicked astutely from fly half.

Cowra having no Thirds, it was straight to the Seconds ... and didn’t the Gorillas show some toe: 52-0 up at oranges!! For the record, the eight first half tries were scored by Charlie McInnes, Jock Crawford (off Nick Wilson), Wilson, Matt Cowley, Jack McCutcheon, McInnes again, Phil Miles and McCutcheon again (with Stu Duff adding the extras on a regular basis).

The second half saw Narromine score five more tries: Andrew Gibson, Wilson again (from a quick tap), Jack Miller (after top lead-up work by Phil Carney and Jordan Richardson), McInnes for his trifecta (following bustling runs by Ben Staines and Josh Wrench) and Jason Poulsen (after a break by Richardson). Cowra’s two second half tries led to a final score of 85-12.

Wilson, McCutcheon and McInnes had blinders; while Crawford and Carney were mentioned in despatches; and Matt Ward back in harness did not disappoint!!

Firsts raced to a 31-0 lead in the first 25 minutes, thanks to a triple crossing by Scott Burgess (the second following some magic from Dan Maroulis and Craig Duff), and tries to Craig Shibble (thankyou, Sam Ward!) and Ward himself.

Three converted tries to Cowra and a further Narromine try (CJ Smyth, after another Ward break) saw a 38-21 halftime ledger, and the Gorillas not having things all to themselves.

In the second stanza, the Gorillas outscored Cowra three converted tries to two, with Luke Brown, Luke Harding (after CJ’s kick, and with Luke Brown in support) and Smyth himself (who knocked over several conversions and a penalty goal) going across.

Final score: 62-28. Craig Campbell showed a welcome return to form; and was ably supported by Dan Maroulis, Shibble and George Quigley.

Tomorrow at Cale Oval, the Gorillas play host to Bathurst Bulldogs, who are equal-first, and first, respectively in Firsts and Seconds: the games should be top class, and you will hear it all via the Mickey Mouse Malfunctioning Microphone of Mal McIntyre ... be there!!