WERRIS Creek will host the Second Division grand final after a dominant win over minor premiers Kootingal at home on Saturday in the major semi-final.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Five-eighth Latrell Hampton showed great footwork to cross for three tries in the 46-36 win, the Roosters making the scoreline closer than the game was with two late converted tries.
Creek turned up to play and outplayed the Roosters across the board, stinging them with physicality in defence and then matching it with points, all five second-half tries down the left edge, Hampton either scoring or having a hand in each after the two side went end to end and try for try in the first half.
Kootingal opened the scoring on just the third tackle of the match when Amos Iosa burst through the line and offloaded to fullback Anthony Smith to finish.
Hampton stepped through from in close for his first a few minutes later, before Roosters winger Tristan Flower ducked over from dummy half to make it 12-6.
Mercurial Creek halfback Stu Porter then produced three pieces of magic to put Creek in front.
The first saw Porter throw a ball backwards between his legs for Michael Saunders to cross to even the scores at 12-12 and, shortly after, the crafty 46-year-old appeared from nowhere in the Roosters’ line for an intercept try that would prove the turning point of the match.
With a sniff of the lead, the Magpies settled into their game and into their defence, which never allowed the Roosters to settle into theirs.
Led by skipper and hooker Brendon Hunt and front-rower Thomas Brown, the Magpies started hitting hard in the middle and on the edges, their defence shaking a normally fluent Roosters attack.
Beau Perry crossed as the bell went and sent Kooty into the sheds down 24-18.
After the break Porter stood up again and launched a huge 40-20 to get the Magpies straight on the front foot, Brown reaching out to score under the posts from the resulting set.
Hampton then had the ball on a string on the left side, slicing the Roosters’ defence apart again and again, scoring two himself as well as putting Zac Darcy into space for another as they stretched the lead to 40-18, Hampton’s third the icing on the cake at 46-24 after Ben Williams finally hit back for the home side.
Ben Austin crossed for his second late and Matt McCulloch picked up a chip and race to the line but it was all too late as Creek celebrated earning a home grand final.
The game was a testament to head coach Lindsay Bowne and assistant Ron Dellar, who had the Magpies’ structure and attitude spot-on for a final.
“I felt it in the sheds and saw it in their eyes before we went on,” Bowne said.
“They had turned up to play today and surprised Kooty.”
“That is the football we are capable of – we just need to do it one more time.”
The Kooty girls they will have to play their grand final at David Taylor Park as well despite beating Uralla 20-12 in the league tag to book their spot on a day where both minor premiers were beaten.
The Roosters will now host Boggabri at home next week in the elimination final, while the Uralla girls will face Walcha.