Casuarina Cougars beat University Pirates to secure double chance in final round of 2020-21 Darwin A-grade rugby union comp

DOMINANCE in the set piece and in defence saw Casuarina Cougars beat rivals University Pirates 22-11 to secure the finals double chance, while South Darwin secured the minor premiership.

Cougar lock Matthew Travers was proud of his side’s dominance in the set piece against Pirates. Picture: Glenn Campbell

DOMINANCE in the set piece and in defence saw Casuarina Cougars beat rivals University Pirates 22-11 to secure the finals double-chance, while South Darwin secured the minor premiership.

Both sides had plenty to play for with the finals double-chance on the line and played accordingly, bringing intense hits and plenty of run with the ball.

The Cougars’ defence was sound through the early exchanges, offering little to a University side looking for a gap.

But a persistent Pirates, without stalwart Robbie Butcher, soon found their breakthrough, stretching the defensive line to put Joseph Kado over on the right wing.

Casuarina, missing their own playmaker Zach Phillips, quickly struck back through their own right winger McTallington Wasiu to level the scores.

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But it would be Pirates who edged ahead, going into halftime opting for a penalty kick off the boot of fullback Liam Walker.

A powerful tackle from Casuarina’s No.8 Alani Malupo forced a knock-on and set his side up with a strong platform early in the second half.

And it was from that scrum that the Cougars scored running through the exposed Pirates’ defence to deliver Jarrod Northam a try.

Casuarina was right back on the attack with Matthew Travers charging over the line on the right wing to give his side a healthy lead.

The scrum continued to be a weapon for Cougars with another try, this time for Jarvis Nolan, scoring to extend the lead for his side.

And despite persistence across the pitch from Pirates with captain Ben Parkes and Wise Sekitoga working hard in the forwards, the side only came away with one more penalty from Walker.

Cougars lock Travers was proud of his side’s dominance in the set piece, which was an effective platform in his side’s win.

“The boys are ecstatic, the whole club came together. Credit to the boys that came in each week. I’m over the moon for them,” Travers told the Sunday Territorian.

“Our set piece put us ahead. It’s come a long way from the start of the season just in building those relationships in the middle and getting it out to our experienced backline.

“Bouncing off last year’s final where we lost, a lot of focus has been put on the one-percenters where other sides had got the better of us and that showed in our defence.

“Finals now are for us all to get around each other. We have to set our own tone as we have a high standard for ourselves and we want to follow that standard.

“Double chance was a big goal of ours ahead of Souths. We know they’re the team to beat in this comp and we want to have an extra crack at them.”

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Meanwhile, South Darwin maintained its place atop the competition table and won the minor premiership with a 36-0 win over reigning premiers Darwin Dragons, with Tim Anderson supplying two tries and Setefano Cakaunivalu scoring three.

Jacob Rainger also contributed a try and three conversions for the minor premiers in a match that would have sent a message to their finals rivals.