John Fitzgerald

In the scrap among the top Woodbridge clubs, Cowra’s comprehensive 36-16 loss to Canowindra on Saturday eliminated one contender for the minor premiership but confirmed another challenger for this year’s title.

Canowindra is finishing the season strongly, the 20-point win over third-placed Cowra indicating they will be closely watched by the other title contenders.

Cowra’s defeat leaves Manildra as the only club able to challenge Oberon for the minor premiership.

Ladder leaders Oberon took the round-14 bye on the weekend, and Manildra in their Sunday match with Orange United won 28-18, leaving the Rhinos as the only club with any chance of taking the minor honours.

Two competition points behind Oberon, the Rhinos must win next week’s final regular-season game against the Magpies at Cowra, but if Oberon win their home game against Peak Hill they will take the minor title.

Manildra versus Cowra at Cowra is definitely the match of the round next week on the Sunday but the minor premiership race could be all over after Saturday’s game at Oberon.

Cowra are on 22 points, just four points ahead of Canowindra who have played strongly over the last half of the competition to come from near the bottom of the ladder to fourth spot.

Canowindra’s will be a powerful challenge the top three clubs will confront in the finals series.

No other round-14 matches held any relevance to the possible makeup of the top eight finalists but, Molong and Condobolin, one point apart in eighth and ninth position, will both be hoping for wins in their final games.

At Oberon a new stadium is almost completed and the final-round Peak Hill game will see the last premiership game played at the old ‘cow paddock’ after 78 years calling it home.

The Tigers will have one or two home games in the finals which will be their last appearances at the sports ground.