THE Phantoms went down 25-5 to Cootamundra in a winable game played in terrible conditions on Saturday.

While it was a sunny day, the Country Club Oval was a mud-bath and the Tri-Colours made the best of their opportunities to grab their second win over Leeton in 2014.

Phantoms coach Liam Ward described it as the worst conditions his side had played in for many years.

"It was a pretty good game, a very winnable game for us," he said.

"It was a very competitive game, but you had to play to the conditions.

"We lost our way without Dennis (Feagai) in the centre and Bill Bevan played with an injury, out of position at five-eighth.

"Mitch Cross was a revelation at outside centre, but we just missed that leadership Dennis provides in the backline."

The Phantoms hadn't scored and were only down by a try at half-time, but regrouped at the break intent on returning and playing to a plan.

"We wanted to play in their quarter, BJ (Brandon Emerson) was going to launch a big kick down field," Ward said.

"But, instead of kicking down field, we dropped the ball and they scored."

The home side was again on the board shortly after due to another Phantoms dropped ball.

"Those two errors in our 22 became critical, it changed the momentum," Ward said. "Instead of running up hill into the wind, they had their tails up."

Ward said Luke Collins and Jaryd Pattison were strong, while the players who stepped up from second grade as well as the youth he called on to fill in, played admirably.

"When you go away and you don't have a five-eighth and two centres, it's a big area you've got to try and fill in," Ward said. "The boys who stood up did a fair job."

Southern Inland has a general bye this weekend, which Ward said would be good for his side before it prepares for its final first grade game of 2014 the following Saturday, against Wagga City at No. 1 Oval.

Results

Cootamundra 25 d Leeton 5 (try - Tino Simeti)

Second grade

Cootamundra 5 d Leeton 0

Under 17s

Leeton 22 (tries - Jeremy Mackay 2, Toby Afflick, Jock Ward; con - Jock Ward) d Cootamundra 10