Kangaroos notch half-century and keep clean sheet

The Boggabri Kangaroos continued their high point-scoring as they crushed the Dungowan Cowboys 52-0 in Group 4 rugby league action at Jubilee Oval last Saturday.

Coming off an 80-20 win against the bottom-placed Wee Waa Panthers at the same venue, the hosts went on another rampage as they encountered the sixth-placed team.

After scoring 14 tries to four against Wee Waa, Boggabri scored nine tries to nil against Dungowan.

The Kangaroos remained in equal-second spot on the ladder; behind the North Tamworth Bears on for-and-against after Norths defeated Kootingal-Moonbi 44-26 last Saturday.

The Kangaroos were not always as consistent as they could have been against the Cowboys, considering there were two separate periods of at least 20 minutes when they failed to score.

Had the hosts been more cohesive and ruthless in the first half, they could have set up a 60-point victory and invoked the ‘mercy rule’ which was utilised the previous weekend.

Boggabri centre Ilaisa Kalokalodrau opened the scoring in the sixth minute, but it was not until the 30th minute that the hosts extended their 6-0 lead.

Lepani Banuve scored the second try when he caught a floated kick from Ash White and touched down.

Following a stoppage, the Kangaroos promptly spread the ball to the left before Josefa Gonduadua broke through for a try which helped the hosts to a 16-0 half-time lead.

Interchange player Avenai Tuidraki scored from a barnstorming run early in the second half, and then just over 20 minutes passed before White scored the next try.

A short kick from Andrew Wallace was fumbled by Dungowan fullback and captain Trent Taylor, with White on the spot to capitalise.

The Kangaroos ran the ball on the final tackle of the next set, and were rewarded as Gonduadua registered his second try.

Kalokalodrau soon scored his second try of the day following a good series of passes, before Dungowan forced a goal-line drop-out.

The Cowboys turned over possession in the repeat set, and some needless pushing and shoving took place.

Boggabri’s Aaron Hobden and Dungowan’s Lochie Collins were sent to the sin bin, before the Kangaroos were awarded a penalty.

In the ensuing set, Gonduadua registered his third try of the match as he scooted away untouched in the 75th minute.

In the following set, a try to Esava Nadalo raised Boggabri’s half-century before White’s eighth conversion completed the scoring.

The Cowboys were too good in the reserve grade fixture as they tallied seven tries to four in a 38-22 victory.

Robert Doolan and Selesitino Penisoni scored twice each for the Kangaroos, with Doolan also landing three conversions.

Boggabri stumbled to fourth spot on the reserve grade ladder while Dungowan moved to outright second, after the two teams were level on points beforehand.

The leaguetag match featured the ladder leader against the bottom-placed team, with Dungowan scoring nine tries in a 48-0 rout.

All three Kangaroos teams will contest North Tamworth at Jack Woolaston Oval this Saturday.

It will be Boggabri’s first away games since May 25, with the Kangaroos having been at home for four successive rounds and won all four first grade games while tallying 204 points to 46.