The Cootamundra Tri Colours started the season with two long term and respected players at the helm.
There was one and then there was two. Those two are Jack Hogan and Hamish Pennington. They have taken the club’s number of players from the two of them at the first pre season run, to a strong squad which just knocked last year’s premiers, the Boorowa Goldies down a peg with a comprehensive game of rugby at Coota on Saturday.
Keagan Size tells it like it is and big tight head prop for Boorowa described the first few minutes of the game as, “Boorowa waltzed down the field and scored a try in the first four minutes, then didn’t have the ball for the next half hour.”
The Coota side were a superior side on Saturday and ball retention was at the fore.
Co Coach of Coota, Hogan said, “We have been working pretty hard on putting a bit of structure in place the last couple of weeks and it all just fell in to place, which is just our reward for all the hard work that we have been putting in.”
With the score 37-19 both sides will have to work on their defence but Boorowa would be unhappy to concede as many points as they did. When some players go away or don’t travel it makes it harder on the coaching staff with the Goldies losing away games to Harden and now to Coota.
Coota were good with ball in hand. Hogan said, “We’ve been really hammering everyone on solid rock security and that being the most important thing. I was very impressed and very happy with the result.”
“We had two at the first pre-season training that being Hamish and I to roll into now having plenty of players. We are now in top two contention which is awesome. Can’t ask for anything more really.”
“It means that we can put three or four of our bench on the field at once which makes an impact.”
“Anything can happen the next two games. If Boorowa lose one more, we will catch up into second, but they have got two easier teams, and if we play Harden next week, that will really test us and see where we sit.”
Coota is holing their Old Boys Day this Saturday and they are having a reunion for the grand final side, which has been 20 years since 2006.
There is little doubt the game against Harden will be a cracker. Hogan said, “Hamish is at five-eight and then Ben Coe has come sort of midway through the season and he’s a very handy 9, so I have been pushed to flanker.
I probably enjoy the physical part, but the body doesn’t enjoy it. The date of birth doesn’t enjoy it, but it is good fun in that position. As long as the body lasts I will be right, as I’m now 31 and Hamish is 30, so hopefully a few good years left in us.”
“Hamish was away on the weekend and he’s away this weekend, so it was good for others to step up.”
“Toby Hamilton and Ben Coe, that’s 9 and 10 for the weekend, they’re cousins and they were like telepathic. Basically, they sort of won the game for us, it’s like they were playing backyard footy at Christmas time.”
Hogan joked, “That’ll put the pressure on Hamish to get his ten jersey back when he comes back in a fortnight.”
Pennington has gone to another level this season and his place kicking is always at a high percentage and accuracy.
Hogan said, “I think it is pretty cool that the top four sides are only 50 km’s apart from each other.”
Some of the older Tri Colours have turned out when needed in 2026.
“Phil Gay and Berkley Harding played the game in Boorowa. We went over there with 15 and they helped us out. They reckon they are playing their last games on the West Wyalong bus trip.”
No doubt it will be a great week, but this week, all roads lead to Coota and a scintillating clash of the top of the table sides.
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