MOREE Boomerangs continued the successful run of minor premiers in the Group 19 A Grade grand final with an outstanding 56-18 win over a gallant Inverell Hawks at Bert Jovanovich Oval on Sunday.
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All three previous grand finals on the day had been won by the minor premiers when the Boomerangs stepped up to defend their 2013 G19 first grade title.
At halftime the Boomies led 16-8 and if Inverell could have posted first points in the second half the game may have been in the balance.
But, as Hawks coach Peter Stevens said: “They put us to the sword after that!”
The match was only five minutes old when hooker Wayne Swan dived over to score the opening try from a grubber kick by half Jamie Sampson who grabbed a superb offload from big prop Warren Cain.
But Inverell responded gamely.
Second-rower Rod Bull forced his way over in the corner on the quarter hour and five minutes later big forward Luke Vakatini charged fifteen minutes to score.
Inverell missed both conversion attempts but led 8 -6.
Speedy winger Jason Saunders posted a brilliant individual sixty metre try to re-set the equilibrium for the Boomies and then Willy Fernando scored a try just prior to the break after the Boomies may have been lucky to receive the scrum feed after what appeared to be a charge down by Inverell.
Inverell needed to score first to put pressure on the home team but missed a golden opportunity and, almost immediately, man of the match, five eighth Ricky Roberts who dominated the second half, stepped past a couple of defenders to score at the other end.
Again Inverell came back hard, this time through a smart try to replacement winger Leroy Davis who cleverly trapped a dropped ball and raced thirty metres to score.
Luke Thom’s successful kick made the score 22-14.
The Boomies showed their undoubted quality by running in the next three tries.
Roberts began the roll with another smart-stepping four pointer.
Then Saunders grabbed a beautiful thirty metre pass from fullback Dillon Walford who supported a fine break up the middle from Cain for a great try and Luke Raveneau burst onto a Roberts pass for another try.
Moree had raced to a 40-14 advantage and the contest was effectively over.
Walford raced over with ten to go but Inverell winger Harold Duncan replied after the Boomies knocked on the re-start.
Then Swan grabbed his double and winger Lloyd Munro finished off the try- scoring with a nice effort at the death.
This was converted by prop Toby Key to go alongside Saunders’ seven successful kicks.
Vakatini and Metui Kalekale were excellent for the Hawks. Skipper Alex McCosker never stopped working and half Tom Nelson also had impact, especially in the first half.
Roberts had a host of fine supporters in the Rangs’ winning effort, including Mundarra Weldon in attack, and big prop Toby Key, Saunders and Swan.
“At half time we were right in it,” Stevens said.
“But we made too many mistakes in the second half.
“No one rated us early in the season but we’ve made the grand final and come a long way.”
For Stevens, it was a case of deja vu after his Gwydir team experienced a similar grand final defeat at the hands of the Boomerangs last season.
Successful Moree mentor Chris Binge rated his team’s effort as “great”.
“It’s all about passion, pride, family and community,” Binge said.
“We want to improve on that effort next season when we’ll have our own purpose-built stadium.
“Inverell should hold their heads high.
“It’s always a challenge coaching against ‘Rolls’ (Stevens).
“You could see they were tired at the end after such a hard run while we were 100 per cent.
“We created a piece of history here today with our back-to-back victories.
“Next season we will want to challenge ourselves to get even better.”
Rangs’ captain Jamie Sampson was delighted.
“Going back-to-back was unreal.
“It’s the best year ever for the Rangs.”