However the Roosters bounced back from two stunning Walcha starts to both halves to win 48-18 and officially end the Roos’ hopes while keeping their own minor premiership hopes on line.

The Roos had kicked off, trapped the Rooster player in goal and then second- rower Lachlan Laurie feasted on good fortune when the ball came loose in the tackle for him to pounce.

They led 6-nil inside a minute but had slipped behind 18-12 at halftime after a good tussle.

They were about 60 seconds  slower starting the second half than they were in the first when Troy Yarnold’s 40-20 attempt bounced back for centre Corey Jamieson to jump and catch and then slip a pass to centre partner Lee Harrison.

He crossed for a converted try to make it 18-all and dare the Roos to dream for another 10 minutes or so.

They had their chances too, only for their attacks to break down.

16 minutes into the second half after the Roosters had defended stoutly, Andrew Moodie raced down the blind side, and drew and sent Jeremy York on the first of a number of spearing second-half runs.

York’s try was followed by three more in the space of 12 minutes.

Hooker Daniel Sullivan scored one from dummy half to go with his first-half try and then  capped it off by scoring a “long-range” 5m try to give him a hat-trick and Kootingal a 30-point win.

The score didn’t reflect the game, reckoned rawboned Walcha lock Lachlan Brown.

He was Walcha’s best and probably the best afield.

His bone-jarring defence also assisted a couple of try-saving tackles while he ran the ball once and twice in a set of tackles.

“We were  good for the first 60 minutes,”  Brown said after the match.

“They rolled through the last 15 or 20 but we did stick it to them. 

“They were just a bit strong around the ruck and their play the ball was a bit quicker.

“We did play with a lot of spirit but just made a few mistakes at the wrong time.”

He said the Roos have a young side.

“Only a few are over 25. All the rest are young – that’s good for next year.”

Brown is 29 and a convert from rugby union, as his older brother, Luke Brown.

“That was a good tough game,” Lachlan Brown said.

He and his Roo mates have a “roo battle” on their hands this week when they host Boggabri Roos at Captain Cook Park.

The Boggabri Roos are fourth and just two points astern of equal-second-placed Dungowan and Werris Creek after they beat the Creek 20-18 at Jubilee Oval last Saturday.

It makes for a vital trip for the Boggy boys, with Lachlan Brown and the Walcha Roos ready to spoil their day.