At Cargo on Sunday the Blue Heelers were too strong for the Gooloogong Cowboys, 52-0. 

The game was called off at half-time as Gooloogong could not come out for the second half. 

Cargo ran riot in that first stanza, running in 10 tries, throwing the ball around, with captain-coach Tory Madden returning from injury, controlling the Heelers’ attack from his half-back position. Madden set up most of the tries for his backline, who ran in seven of the 10 tries scored. 

Left winger Josh Lloyd scored four, centre Jamahl Wright two and fullback Steve Maere one. 

Cargo’s forwards, led by Brett “Rooster” Morgan, ran at will and their defence was outstanding. Hooker Mitch Gallagher had a solid game, scoring a try, as did Morgan, who also kicked four conversions as stand-in kicker.

Andrew Drady also kicked in place of absent regular kickers Duncan Young and Dan Madden. 

A good win to the Heelers even though the Cowboys were down on numbers. The Heelers, too, were down on numbers, but the boys played well, especially players’ player Mitch Gallagher, who was also awarded two points in the best and fairest, while Josh Lloyd got three points for scoring four tries, and Andrew Drady one point for his dummy-half play and all round good game.

Peak Hill Roosters ran riot over Burrangong Bears 78-20 ending the Bears’ finals hopes, while the Roosters hold on to fifth place.

Eugowra Golden Eagles won 54-30 over neighbours Grenfell Goannas, maintaining a five-point lead on top of the ladder. The loss for Grenfell leaves them three points out of the five in sixth place.

The Canowindra Tigers continue on their winning way towards a top three spot after a big win 64-16 over Condobolin Rams, whose finals hopes are over with three rounds to go.

Trundle Boomers, after the bye, are still in the race for third place on the ladder.

Youth League saw wins to Peak Hill 50-6 over Canowindra, and Grenfell 34-12 over Eugowra.

League Tag saw wins to Cargo 46-16 over Gooloogong, Grenfell 13-12 over Eugowra, and the Condobolin side went down in their first loss of the season, 18-10 to Canowindra.

After the results last weekend, the final five could be just about wrapped up. Peak Hill in fifth place play Grenfell, sixth place, next week, and competition leaders Eugowra in round 17 and Canowindra round 18. 

Grenfell play Peak Hill and Condobolin and have the bye. A real fight for that fifth spot and the top five in order. 

Ladder: Eugowra 28, Cargo 23, Trundle 20, Canowindra 20, Peak Hill 16, Grenfell 13, Condobolin 12, Gooloogong 10, Burrangong 8.