Hamish Pennington kicks for goal earlier in the season. The air at West Wyalong Rugby Club on Saturday, June 28, 2025, was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and anticipation. A decent crowd had gathered, a mix of loyal Weevils supporters and a spirited contingent of Tri-Colours fans who had made the journey.
The pitch, while a little heavy from recent rain, was ready for a clash in the Central West Rugby Union’s South West Fuels Cup. From the opening whistle, it was clear this wouldn’t be a walkover.
The West Wyalong Weevils, known for their grit, came out firing, their forwards driving hard into contact, testing the Cootamundra defence. The Tri-Colours, however, met them with equal ferocity, their de-fensive line holding firm.
“A very tough win. Probably the best win we’ve had in two years, to be honest,” remarked Cootamundra Tri-Colours coach Phil Gay after the match, setting the tone for the challenging encounter.
“We went over there a little bit lighter in troops.”
The first fifteen minutes were a bruising arm wrestle in the midfield, with neither side giving an inch. Then, a signifi-cant moment occurred.
“We had one of our front rowers sent off after 20 minutes, so we played a man down,” Gay re-vealed, highlighting the early adversity. Despite this setback, Cootamundra eventually broke the deadlock. A well-executed line-out deep in Weevil territory set up a powerful rolling maul. Prop Isaac Mitchell, a tireless work-horse and the team’s captain, emerged from the pile of bodies to crash over for the first try.
“Isaac Mitchell, our captain, and Cameron were absolute standouts for us,” Gay later praised. Hamish Pennington, the Tri-Colours’ fly-half, calmly slotted the con-version from a tricky angle, making it 7-0. The try seemed to ignite the Tri-Colours. Their backs, with Shaun Helt orchestrating from the centres, started to find space, their passes sticking, and their lines cutting through the Weevils’ defence.
“Hamish’s kicking game in the second half certainly contributed to the win,” Gay noted, a testament to Pennington’s influence throughout the game. A penalty goal soon after, again from Pennington’s boot, extended their lead to 10-0. Just before halftime, a moment of individual brilliance saw Jarryd Cook, the Cootamundra winger, chip over the defence, regather, and dive into the corner.
The conversion was missed, but the Tri-Colours went into the break with a commanding 15-0 lead, a score that reflected their ability to adapt. The Weevils, however, were not to be easily subdued. They emerged from the sheds with re-newed vigour, their captain, Charles Hogan, rallying his troops. Their efforts were rewarded midway through the second half when a sustained period of pressure on the Cootamundra line finally cracked their defence.
After several pick-and-go phases, a quick pass found Dylan Fuller, who powered through two defenders to score near the posts. The conversion was good, bringing the score to 15-7 and giving the home crowd a surge of hope.
Coach Gay clarified this moment: “They did score one try but it was a penalty try.” But Cootamundra quickly extinguished any thoughts of a comeback.
“Once again, dug deep and they were quite strong over there with their old boys’ day,” Gay said, acknowledging the Weevils’ home advantage and the Tri-Colours’ resilience.
“It certainly came off the back of our defensive efforts and kicking game of our fly half, Hamish Pennington.”
Their experience and structure shone through. They tightened their defence, forcing errors from the Weevils, and capitalised on every opportunity.
“We probably played them similar to how a lot of sides try and play us. We try to turn their big boys around,” Gay explained.
“We had to change our game plan at half time and the boys certainly started to work and that kept them scoreless in the second half and got that bonus point win, which was even more important for us.”
Two more penalty goals from the reliable Pennington pushed their lead further, making it 21-7. As the clock wound down, a final, sweeping backline movement saw Alipate Rabuku Vakatalai cross for a well-deserved try in the corner, sealing the victory.
The conversion was unsuccessful, but the final whistle blew shortly after, confirming the Cootamundra Tri-Colours’ 25-7 triumph over the resilient West Wyalong Weevils.
“It was good to see them get a win,” Gay concluded. “It was a very good effort.”
It was a hard-fought win for the Tri-Colours, showcasing their attacking prowess and defensive solidity, and a testament to the Weevils’ unwavering spirit despite the score-line. Both teams left the field to applause, having delivered a true rugby encounter.
-Tully Potts
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