It took 75 minutes to subdue the CSU challenge before Wallerawang Warriors finally asserted their superiority in the third-round New Era Midwest Cup top-of-the-table match.
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Bragging rights for benchmark status could easily have been shared between the two sides but CSU with their loss and now in third spot on the ladder, will have to wait their opportunity to advance their position.
The clash between two of the top three teams at Wallerawang Sportsground was intriguing and, down on numbers, CSU showed with their spirited performance that, despite their loss, they will be a force in this year’s premiership.
Not a stylish performance by either side, there was good attack and stern defence by both teams that kept interest high, as was expected in a game of this stature.
Warriors fullback Nathan Redding scored four times but importantly, his points were scored in the final minute of each half, and at crucial times – his try in the 79th minute consolidating the win for his side.
Wallerawang scored first points at the 15th minute before CSU’s Billy Dickinson’s try, then a second CSU try gave university the lead before Redding scored his first try to take a locked-up 10-points-all score to the break.
Halfway through the second half Dickinson’s second touchdown and Brad Rushby’s conversion broke the deadlock for a 16-10 CSU lead following a period of heavy hitting by the Warriors’ defence, but Redding’s second try evened up the score once again.
Five minutes from the end the Warriors’ Dave Howard bulldozed across to give his side a four-point lead before Redding’s third gave Wallerawang their 8-point win in the final minute of the game.
At Kandos, almost 70 points were scored in the Waratahs’ 36-32 win over Lithgow Bears in the first Nathan Boundy Shield contest.
The first Best On Ground medal, in association with the Nathan Boundy Shield, was presented to Kandos number 9 Matt Woods.
Portland, in their first game in three weeks, were beaten by Villages United 40-6, the Bathurst club retaining the Rocket Murry Memorial.
In league tag Wallerawang Warriettes kept their unbeaten record with a 12-4 win over CSU Yellow, Kandos kept Lithgow scoreless in a 48-0 win, CSU Blue defeated Orange 22-8, and Portland won 18-6 over Villages.
Results: Villages def Portland 40-6; Wallerawang def CSU 24-16; Kandos def Lithgow Bears 36-32; Orange had the bye.
League tag: Kandos def Lithgow 48-0; CSU Blue def Orange 22-8; Wallerawang def CSU Yellow 12-4; Portland def Villages 18-6.
