John Fitzgerald

In the first game of the final round of Woodbridge Cup premiership matches Oberon Tigers secured the 2025 minor premiership with a convincing 38-4 win over Peak Hill.

Already two competition points ahead of nearest rival Manildra, the Tigers had only to win their last game to take the title, and every other game played on the weekend was incidental to Oberon’s position at the top of the table.

Weather conditions in Oberon are notorious and last Saturday it was bitterly cold, the temperature hovering around zero with ice in the rain, but Oberon’s former representative player Dallas Booth on the sidelines in his first year of retirement since the 1990s, claimed it was not even in the worst 50 occasions in half a lifetime playing at Oberon.

On a treacherous playing surface cut up by the earlier game and constant icy rain, and the ground more resembling a cow paddock, the Tigers overcame the conditions to claim the title and deliver a message to other clubs they will be the side to beat in the finals beginning next weekend.

The ‘Hill’ had a two-and-a-half hour drive to Oberon and despite the lengthy travel time had a well-stacked bench.

The Tigers were slow to get into gear, and full marks to the Roosters defence in the first 10 minutes, but Oberon were first to get points on board with Abel Lefaoseu’s try, converted by Blake Fitzpatrick.

Stoicly defending their line but up against a better performing attack, the Roosters let in a second try to their rivals at the 19th minute.

Skipper and coach Nic Barlow was over for Oberon’s next try, Fitzpatrick on target again, converting the try into an 18-point total.

It was not until one minute before the break before Peak Hill’s Jyi Cohen was across for his side’s only score of the day, and the sides went to the sheds as much for the comfort from the bitter conditions as a well deserved rest.

The game resumed with an 18-4 scoreline, the Tigers tightening their defence even more strongly, but their attack showed more life and they scored their next try in the 48th minute for a 20-point lead.

Another three tries were scored by Oberon over the last 30 minutes for a comprehensive win and the minor premiership title, the club’s first since 2020’s Midwest Cup title.

The game was cut short with 10 minutes to go by mutual agreement by the skippers.

Despite their loss Peak Hill scrambled into the finals in eighth position.
In the other Saturday game fifth-positioned Trundle won their game 50-20 against Grenfell to confirm their place in the finals.

Of the Sunday games most interest was between the second and third placed Manildra and Cowra at Cowra.

Manildra, flexing their strength as they always do at this time of the year, put away the Magpies’ challenge 46-12.

Orange United won their game to finish their regular season two points behind Cowra.

Molong Bulls are into the semis in seventh place.

Oberon Tigers, with their minor premiership win, finished the regular season with a points differential of better than 50 points in front of second-placed Manildra.

Canowindra had the round’s bye but could be the dark horse coming into this week’s first set of finals games.

Their first semi final will be against Oberon, the two Tigers sides to be involved in one of the more interesting clashes of the first round of the finals. Manildra will play Cowra for a second time in two weeks, this time at the Rhinos ground.

Orange will host Peak Hill in their semi-final.