Campbelltown City Kangaroos have served notice that they will be a force in this year’s Group Six competition.
They put on a strong performance and only poor goal kicking let them down when they were run down by last year’s grand finalists Camden at Campbelltown on Sunday, reports MIKE SHEAN.
The Kangaroos were leading 28-22 with 10 minutes before fulltime when Camden’s former NRL star Dean Collis bagged two late tries to help his side snatch a 32-28 victory.
Collis, who also scored a try in the first half, ended up with a hat-trick as his team maintained their undefeated run after four rounds of the 2016 premiership.
The match at Fullwood Reserve was played in perfect conditions for football.
Indeed it was a terrific game of rugby league, both sides playing a high quality brand of football over the 80 minutes.
Defence dominated early though and the scoring didn’t open until the 17th minute.
Kangaroos centre Matt Waugh crossed for the first four pointer of the match to the cheers of the home fans.
Ten minutes later fullback Dayne Syron crossed and suddenly the home side were leading 10-0 against the might of Camden.
But the Rams responded not long after when Collis scored the first of his three tries.
When Toby Huxley scored on the stroke of halftime, Camden headed to the sheds ahead on the scoreboard, 12-10.
But it was the home side who drew first blood in the second stanza as the match continued to be a see-sawing affair.
Ihaia Kohunui touched down to put the Kangaroos back in the lead, by two points.
Camden fullback Chris Browne was the next scorer, which meant Camden again regained the lead, 16-14, with almost 30 minutes left on the clock.
Then the home side grabbed two tries to lead 24-16.
However, neither team were done with the try scoring caper yet and traded tries for Campbelltown to be ahead 28-22 with 10 minutes to go.
At this point local fans would have been fairly confident of victory, but it was not to be.
Dean Collis crossed for two tries in the space of four minutes to snatch victory from the Kangaroos.
Campbelltown City coach Drew Dalton would have been pleased with the effort from his side.
All except one aspect: the coach would concede goal kicking let his side down and needs to be addressed.
The Rams paid a price for their win, with captain/coach Scott Borg being taken to hospital with rib cartilage damage.
Borg’s brother Ryan said after the game he wasn’t aware Scott had been taken away for treatment.
There’s plenty of room for improvement in us, Ryan Borg said.
RESULTS – first grade:
Mittagong Lions 6 Thirlmere Roosters 20;
Oakdale Workers 56 Moss Vale Dragons 4;
Picton Magpies 64 The Oaks Tigers 6;
Campbelltown City 28 Camden Rams 32.
Reserve Grade:
Mittagong 10 Thirlmere 14;
Campbelltown City 48 Camden 18;
Narellan Jets 20 Appin Dogs 18;
Oakdale 12 Moss Vale 0;
Picton 32 The Oaks 20
Under 18:
Mittagong 10 Thirlmere 52;
Campbelltown City 0 Camden 58;
Narellan 20 Appin 26.
Picton, Moss Vale, bye.
League Tag:
Mittagong 0 Thirlmere 60;
Mt Annan Barbarians 44 The Oaks 4.
Moss Vale – bye
Second Division:
Narellan Jets 18 Robertson Spuddies 16;
Picton Magpies 22 Mt Annan Knights 12;
Warragamba Wombats 28 Bargo Bunnies 10.
Next Week – Round 5, First Grade:
Oakdale vs Mittagong (Sat 6pm);
Camden vs Picton (Sat 7pm);
Moss Vale vs Narellan (Sun 2.30pm)
Thirlmere vs Campbelltown City (Sun 2.30pm)
