Cockatoos in Solid Win over Australian Services
Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2025 9:00 am
NSW Country LogoIn what could be best described as a solid win, the GrainCorp NSW Country Cockatoos have claimed the inaugural Geoff Richardson Cup following their 48 – 21 victory over Australian Services on Saturday. The match was the first between the two Union’s for over a decade and both sides were keen to claim the cup which had been named in honour of Geoff Richardson who had represented both Unions during the late sixties and early seventies.
Venue for the match was Singleton Rugby Park which has a strong tradition in Country Rugby having previously hosted numerous Country representative matches on an international scale. The Cockatoos started strongly by forcing a turnover from the kick off and straight away went on the attack, but this was quickly undone when a loose pass was intercepted and the ASRU winger went for a seventy metre dash down field.
A great covering tackle saved the day, but ASRU where on phone number library the attack and it required very solid defence to hold them out, which eventually saw their ball carrier bundled into touch. The ensuing lineout win and two relieving penalties saw the Cockatoos slowly but surely work the play down field, and after five minutes flanker Paul Tuala was on hand out wide to cross for an unconverted try to have the Cockatoos lead 5 – 0.
This lead was very short lived, as from the restart another loose pass by the Cockatoos saw the ASRU centre take another intercept to cross for a converted try and take the lead 7 – 5. The Cockatoos immediately struck back and after securing the ball worked play into the ASRU twenty two, and once again Paul Tuala was on hand to cross wide out, but in an attempt to improve the position for the conversion was held up. This was the first of three occasions in the first half when the Cockatoos crossed the ASRU line, only to be held up or have the ball dislodged when trying to score the try.
This sparked the Cockatoos into action and from the ensuing scrum centre Lee Russell crashed over for a try which was converted by fullback Ben Damen to reclaim the lead 12 – 7. Two minutes later the Cockatoos extended their lead to 19 – 7 when centre Filisone Patua backed up a fifty metre run by winger Andre Itula to score which was converted by Ben Damen. The Cockatoos continued to attack and in the space of fifteen minutes either lost the ball over the line, dropped the ball with the line wide open or were held up over the line, which had the potential to increase the lead by twenty one points.
Venue for the match was Singleton Rugby Park which has a strong tradition in Country Rugby having previously hosted numerous Country representative matches on an international scale. The Cockatoos started strongly by forcing a turnover from the kick off and straight away went on the attack, but this was quickly undone when a loose pass was intercepted and the ASRU winger went for a seventy metre dash down field.
A great covering tackle saved the day, but ASRU where on phone number library the attack and it required very solid defence to hold them out, which eventually saw their ball carrier bundled into touch. The ensuing lineout win and two relieving penalties saw the Cockatoos slowly but surely work the play down field, and after five minutes flanker Paul Tuala was on hand out wide to cross for an unconverted try to have the Cockatoos lead 5 – 0.
This lead was very short lived, as from the restart another loose pass by the Cockatoos saw the ASRU centre take another intercept to cross for a converted try and take the lead 7 – 5. The Cockatoos immediately struck back and after securing the ball worked play into the ASRU twenty two, and once again Paul Tuala was on hand to cross wide out, but in an attempt to improve the position for the conversion was held up. This was the first of three occasions in the first half when the Cockatoos crossed the ASRU line, only to be held up or have the ball dislodged when trying to score the try.
This sparked the Cockatoos into action and from the ensuing scrum centre Lee Russell crashed over for a try which was converted by fullback Ben Damen to reclaim the lead 12 – 7. Two minutes later the Cockatoos extended their lead to 19 – 7 when centre Filisone Patua backed up a fifty metre run by winger Andre Itula to score which was converted by Ben Damen. The Cockatoos continued to attack and in the space of fifteen minutes either lost the ball over the line, dropped the ball with the line wide open or were held up over the line, which had the potential to increase the lead by twenty one points.