The Young Cherrypickers have not been able to capitalise on a dominant first half, going down 12-10 against the Cootamundra Bulldogs at Les Boyd Oval in Cootamundra on Sunday.
In what was a typical winter’s day with rain drizzling throughout the contest, the Cherrypickers failed to adapt to the conditions in the second half and have fallen to fourth on the competition ladder.
Young created the first of few genuine scoring opportunities during the game with a Boro Navori break, only for the last pass to find a Bulldogs defender.
Young supporters didn’t have to wait long until they were excited again, as star fullback Kane Ball found his way over the line, only to be ruled to have dropped the ball in the process of grounding it in the in-goal area.
Matt Noakes eventually opened the scoring for the Cherrypickers, two plays after Cooper Smith made a slashing run into Cootamundra’s half.
A penalty off the ensuing set from the kick off saw Young again attacking the Bulldogs line, a shift to their left side executed to perfection as Ball created space for Navori to score in the corner.
After a promising opening to the first quarter of the game, both sides became guilty of poor concentration in possession and were making fundamental errors.
A penalty on the stroke of half-time gave the Bulldogs a chance to peg two points back through a penalty goal, which they did, and Young led 10-2 at the break.
After failing to take Cootamundra’s kick off to start the second half, Young paid the ultimate price with prop Nikola Sovatabua charging over for the Dogs to make the difference only two points.
Things didn’t improve in a hurry for the visitors, with Young’s first time in actual possession resulting in yet another error in their own half and Cootamundra being on the attack once more.
The Cherrypickers found their way into the game again and regained control, with only desperate cover defence preventing Young from adding to their tally.
Ill-discipline would ultimately prove detrimental to the Pickers’ hopes of victory, another two penalty goals for Cootamundra allowing them to find the lead 12-10, which would be the final scoreline.
Both sides continued to turn possession over cheaply the further the game went, with Young spending plenty of time attacking Coota’s line but self-imploding with the football at important moments and not being able to convert numerous attacking opportunities.
A penalty to the Cherrypickers with just three minutes remaining gave Young one last chance to secure a match winning try, but it was to no avail, as Cootamundra held on for an important win which dumped the away side out of the competition’s top three.
The task for Young gets no easier this coming weekend, as they tackle reigning premiers Gundagai Tigers on Saturday at Alfred Oval.
A win against the Tigers would not only provide a timely boost in confidence but ensure at the very least, the Cherrypickers would get to host a semi final match.
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