TAMWORTH Kangaroos trailed all game but scored the goals when they mattered to stun Gunnedah Bulldogs in the final few minutes of an enthralling Tamworth AFL clash at Wolseley Park, Gunnedah on Saturday.
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The Bulldogs had led at every turn but couldn’t contain the rushing Roos, losing 16.13 109 to 15.14 104.
“It was a great game, a quality game, an exciting game of football,” Roos coach Tony Bishop said.
“They (Gunnedah) played well, kicked the first three goals. We were down by 11 at the first break, by nine at half time and then six at three quarter time.
“It went goal for goal in the last quarter before we booted the last two.”
The Roos were short-staffed, forcing Bishop, who hadn’t played for two years, and right hand man and “water boy” Vince Woodgate to play.
They kicked five of the Roos’ goals while Bishop admits to “conning” injured star, Daniel Johnson, to play.
Johnson more than turned up to make the numbers and was one of the side’s best despite coming back early from a pelvic problem.
“He was outstanding,” Bishop said.
“Matty Hopson was great at fullback, Brock Quinn led the midfield. Daniel Leon and Dean Hoy also competed very well.
“But it was a win we needed too. Our season could have been derailed if we had lost.”
Bishop said all the “new” Roos excelled too, with Ryan Searl booting a goal in his second game.
Bishop, Leon and Luke Dennis all kicked three goals apiece for the Roos while Scott Hardy led the way for the Bulldogs with four goals.
Ben Maher also kicked three goals with Andy Mack and Andrew George also bagging a pair of majors.
Scott Hardy, Ben Maher, Al Hillard, Peter Chapman, George and Mack were best for the Bulldogs.
In other games, New England Nomads beat Tamworth Swans by points with a second-half surge.
In Moree, the Suns started well and led the Inverell Saints by a point at quarter-time but the visitors regrouped to win by 60.
There is no TAFL this weekend, with Round 4 being played Saturday, April 30.