Magpies Go Down In Chad Nealon Cup

Cowra Magpies came up against Bathurst Panthers in the Chad Nealon Cup on Sunday at Sid Kallas Oval The Magpies hit the ground running drawing first blood against the Panthers with Jake Pollard scoring a try straight out of the gate. Panthers slipped through the Magpies strong defense line to score but speedy winger Noah Ryan countered, crossing the line for Cowra bringing the board to 10-6. With the halftime clock ticking down Cowra held the line, pushing Panthers back, but a lapse in ball control opened up the defence allowing Bathurst to score.

Second half saw Bathurst demolish Cowra’s line with an early try. With the Magpies churning out costly errors across the field, they struggled to get back into the game. Despite an impressive consolation try by William Ingram, Panthers continued to break through, lifting the score to 38-16. Frustration began to boil on the field with Josh Newling sin binned with 2 minutes left on the clock in a final blow to Cowra.

“It’s unlike us” a deflated Magpie said “It was a shock; we just didn’t show up for each other and it’s disappointing. It was a lack of ball control and field position.”

Newling was left with nothing but frustration. “We keep making the same mistakes, every game!”

With loyal Magpies supporters remaining positive, the fan base are determined to stick behind Cowra and see them raise the bar. Cowra will take on Orange Hawks at Wade Park on Sunday the 30th of May. By Jamie-Lee Farley

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