Expectations were high for the Warren side after a promising display a fortnight ago against Gular where they snuck into the top four of the competition.

A win would have seen the Pumas cement this position so the mood was positive in the Pumas’ den.

Unfortunately after taking all of this into account the boys were not switched on when they ran onto the field and after 15 minutes of the match they were down by 17 points and the two Steele boys were in the sin bin as the game plan went out the window.

It was a huge wake-up call for the Warren side if they are to figure in the finals of the competition.

When the pressure was on and decisions didn’t go their way the Warren boys unfortunately forgot the basics.

They didn’t provide a lot of quality ball for halves Matt Colwell and Henry Noble, who had a tough day at the office with the big Bourke forward pack coming through the ruck and off the fringes at remarkable pace giving the two men little time to direct a solid platform.

Positives to come of the match included the performance of new prop Matt Horsington who had a solid day in the scrum against some quality opposition as he attempts to gain membership in the exclusive front rowers club.

Performance on the field has been solid and with a couple of extra steak sandwiches and schooners after training on Thursday nights he will hopefully gain that extra spark required as the Pumas continue their quest towards the finals. Andrew Wise also had a solid game getting through his first full 80 minutes in first grade after returning from a severe leg injury.

The final score of 44-6 in Bourke’s favour highlights the work the Warren boys will need to put in over the next few weeks. Best and fairest points this week went to Tim Whiteley with three, Andrew Wise two and Craig Estons one.

The two-horse race for fourth place continues between Warren and Gular with Warren hanging on with 20 points, closely followed by Gular on 19. To explain the point scoring system - it is four points for a win with bonus points for four plus tries and a loss by less than seven.

Gular has three regular season games in hand and the Pumas have two.

Unfortunately losses like the one on the weekend do not help ‘for and against’ on which Warren is behind.

With three reserves travelling out all players backed up for the second grade match for the extra fitness and the Warren boys won 17-7 in a great positive for the day. Points in this game went to club captain/vote counter Sniper with three, Ben Noble with two and Richie Steele one.

There is a general bye in the competition this weekend for the Bledisloe match with the Western Farm Machinery Pumas’ next game at home against the Coonamble Rams on August 2 in a do-or-die clash. The game is also the club’s ladies day for 2008.

All proceeds from the day go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. The $10 entry fee entitles the ladies to a free luncheon and numerous other goodies, not to mention two grades of rugby with about 80 of some of the finest athletes running around in country NSW.

Hope to see you there, cheering loudly.