DUNGOWAN Recreation Reserve lit up on Saturday as an explosive grand final replay lived up to expectations when the Cowboys held on for a gripping 14-10 win over Kootingal Roosters.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The game threatened to get out of hand early on, after a series of high shots eventually ended with Kooty prop Grayson Bradbury getting cleaned up by a high shot that ended his day.
Huge scuffles broke out repeatedly and it was a penalty from a high elbow that led to the first points.
Dylan O’Brien latched on to a well-weighted Shaun Ferguson kick in the right corner to make it 4-nil in under five minutes.
Another few scuffles saw both sides reduced a player each and, shortly after, a Josh Crittenden bomb was allowed to bounce on the Cowboys’ line for big Tristan Flowers to run onto at pace and crash over to even the score at 4-4.
The Roosters settled into their game a bit more after scoring and were making good metres in the middle to press the hosts.
For the final 12 minutes of the half, the Roosters were camped on the Cowboys’ line, at one stage getting five repeat sets straight.
Zander Smith made an intercept to stop a try on that play as the premiers scrounged and scrambled to hold them out.
Coach Luke Taylor said it was their defence that won the game, particularly the back end of the first half.
“We talked about how much effort we put into it at halftime and how we didn’t want to waste it,” Taylor said.
“Our defence won it.
“We did nothing flash in attack.”
Despite Kooty having more scoring opportunities in the first half, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock straight after the break.
O’Brien scored his second running off halfback Matt Wilson’s hip and turning on the gas to finish, another missed conversion from out wide having the hosts up 8-4.
Kooty then defended their line for ten minutes, although dropped ball and penalties were repeatedly letting the Roosters off the hook.
Two silly penalties handed the Roosters the lead for the first time with 20 minutes to go.
A penalty defending their line saw Jordan Sharpe’s kick for touch get a lucky bounce downfield before going out 20m out from their line.
A penalty for talking saw Kooty marched 10 more metres downfield and Ryan Martin crashed over for easy points and a 10-8 lead.
Five minutes later centre Mitch Brown finished off a move that started with man of the match Clint Ridley running a beautiful inside line, but getting stopped by an equally beautiful tackle around the boots from fullback Jeremy York, who was outstanding all game.
Shaun Ferguson went to dummy half and threw a cutout pass that hit the flying centre flat on the chest out wide.
He brought it around enough for Brock Morgan to kick the goal and the Cowboys hung on to the four-point lead.
The Cowboys’ relentless defence pinned the Roosters in their own half for the final 15 minutes.
With two minutes to go they finally broke out and, after being awarded a repeat set in front of the sticks only a dropped ball stopped Anthony Smith from crashing over as the game came to an end with the crowd on its feet.
“We have got a pretty good rivalry going here and the boys really rise for the game,” Taylor said.
“More than anything it will give us a confidence boost.”
The coach praised his bench players for their commitment despite limited game time, although Ridley was “far and away the best on the field.”
Ridley took the three group points, the club points and players’ player.
The win leaves Kootingal, Dungowan and Werris Creek all equal on 12 points, and all having beaten each other, setting up some great games in the back half of the year.
With only one loss each, Kootingal have beaten Werris Creek, Werris Creek have beaten Dungowan and Dungowan have beaten Kootingal.