He’s back.
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Turning 48 this winter, former Lithgow Workies, Bathurst Panthers, Orange Hawks, Cabonne United, Mudgee Dragons, Blayney Bears and Balmain Tiger Bubba Kennedy has led Cargo to an unlikely win over Trundle in the opening round of the 2017 Woodbridge Cup season.
A Cargo win unlikely? Absolutely, especially considering the Blue Heelers were on the brink of folding heading into the new year.
But with Steve Lane now captain-coach of the club, Cargo stunned the Adam Hall-led Trundle in a 32-30 win over the Boomers.
Winger Steve Nean opened the scoring for Cargo two minutes in to shoot the Heelers out to a 4-0 lead before Trundle hit back through Hall, his four-pointer converted by Linc Taylor to hand the Boomers a 6-4 advantage.
Kennedy then picked up where he left off on the footy field – his last season was in Group 10 with Blayney in 2015 – scoring his first try for Cargo.
Hall’s brother – rugged Forbes Platypi hooker Jarred – scored then for Trundle before Clayton Hall then handed the Boomers a 14-10 lead with an unconverted try.
Typical to the topsy-turvy nature of Woodbridge Cup rugby league, Cargo hit back swifty with tries to Barton Young and Tory Madden to jump to a 20-14 half-time lead.
Trundle started the better of the two sides in the second half, racing in three tries to lead 30-20 before one of the most efficent combinations in Country Rugby League history propelled the Blue Heelers to victory.
Lane and Kennedy combined for two late tries, handing their side a 32-30 win.
In other round one games, Manildra Rhinos thrashed Canowindra 58-6, premiers Condobolin scored a 46-22 win over Burrangong Bears and Grenfell was too good for the Eugowra Golden Eagles with a 50-26 win.
In league tag, Condobolin won 48–8 over Burrangong, a red-hot Cargo side knocked off Trundle 30-0, Grenfell enjoyed a 26-22 win over Eugowra and Manildra proved too strong for the Tigers, winning 32-0.
Peak Hill had the bye in both grades.
Manildra won the only youth league game 46-12 over Canowindra.