Alex Bonham praises team effort after scoring 64 points in Dubbo CYMS' 104-6 victory
Nick Guthrie - Daily Liberal
EPIC: Alex Bonham has starred for CYMS all season and on Sunday he scored an incredible 64 points. Photo: NICK GUTHRIE
Bonham scored an incredible 64 points in Sunday’s 104-6 win over an under strength Cowboys at Caltex Park.
He ran in eight tries and kicked 16 goals from 18 attempts in the stunning effort, which took his individual points tally to the season to 218.
To put that in perspective, Bonham has scored more points on his own this season than the last-placed Dubbo Westside has.
“It’s pretty crazy actually,” he said.
“But it’s also pretty humbling to score that many and set a record. It’s been pretty crazy but everything just went quick out there.”
Respected rugby league statistician David Middleton stated on social media Bonham’s haul is all but certain a record for points in a country footy game but it does still trail one stunning effort.
In 1940, Alf Fairhall scored an incredible 11 tries and 14 goals for North Newcastle but due to the points system in those days it only tallied 61 points.
Bonham joked he had stole the role of fullback Kieran Cubby-Shipp in Sunday’s match, supporting the forwards and making the most of breaks and offloads.
“I think I was just in the right spot at the right time, just floating up the middle,” he said.
“The big forwards were making half breaks and getting offloads so I can’t take all the credit. Lots of others did their job too.”
It wasn’t just his try-scoring feats which impressed, as he missed just two of his 18 conversion attempts.
Bonham has developed into one of Group 11’s most sharp shooters and he stated it is a part of a game he has worked on.
All his teammates and also coach, Tim Ryan, were pleased for Bonham after the match with Ryan especially pleased given the development shown by his halfback this season.
Bonham was a hooker all through his junior footy and played in the number nine jersey for CYMS for much of 2015 but has made the halves his own in the past two seasons.
“Last year I played five-eighth and now I really feel I’m putting a mark on that spot (halfback),” he said.
“I’m getting used to talking a lot out there, that’s something Timmy has been really hard on me about at training.”
With a side stacked with as much talent as CYMS, Bonham has taken on more control.
He, obviously, is key to CYMS’ hopes going forward with the Fishies firmly in the hunt for an undefeated regular season.
With two rounds left the Fishies have games away at second-placed Nyngan and the defending premiers, Forbes.
“We’re all pretty excited for these last couple of games. We haven’t spoken about it too much but we’re treating them as more semi-final-type games,” Bonham said.
“We’re excited to try and get a bit of a roll on in these two big away games.”
For Wellington, the final two matches are now must-win, starting this weekend against Macquarie, while the Cowboys also need the Raiders to lose to Narromine in the final round.