Another clear sign that Group 4’s revamped first-grade competition has taken root was played out in dramatic fashion at Kootingal Oval on Saturday afternoon, as the Roosters won a golden-point shootout against the Magpies.
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In the wake Rooster Jake McLoughlin being taken to hospital in an ambulance, with apparent rib damage, late in the match, Kootingal-Moonbi second-rower Kyle “Yum Yum” Cochrane was the go-to man when the Roosters found themselves on Werris Creek’s tryline early into golden point extra-time.
And he duly delivered from dummy half – crashing his wiry body into the visitors’ desperate defenders and crashing over the tryline, leaving several Magpies slumped on the ground as Cochrane was mobbed by his teammates (see the video of the match-winning try below).
The contest was locked at 32-32 at fulltime, after Magpies fullback Jermain Walford crossed in the final minute of play and halfback Scott Berry slotted the conversion from out wide. Berry was the chief instigator of the Creek’s second-half charge after they were down 22-10 at halftime.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, the competition-leading Roosters had finally subdued the plucky Pies, to rebound from their first loss of the season, against North Tamworth last Sunday, while fourth-placed Werris Creek couldn’t make it four straight wins and claim their second consecutive scalp of a top-three side, after beating Gunnedah last round.
The match was a thrilling advertisement of the first-grade overhaul this season, between two former second-division clubs.
Both sides were missing key personnel including halfback-captain Sam Taylor and veteran prop Phil Beaton for the home side, and No.6 Dwight Millgate for the visitors. But obviously it mattered naught – each Roosters surge matched by Werris Creek.
Mitch Dening, a regular centre for Kooty but who wore the No.11 jersey on Saturday, said: “Those golden points are terrible, especially after an ambulance for young Jakey McLoughlin … It was a bloody tough game as it was, let alone getting cramps and everything waiting for him to get off.”
After noting the injury losses of Taylor and Beaton, Dening said: “The boys stepped up today and I thought they played really well.”
Kootingal-Moonbi established a 12-point buffer at the break when two of their best players, five-eighth Jordan Sharpe and fullback Mitch Doring, crossed in quick succession. Sharpe charged on to a pass from close to the Magpies’ tryline and scored under the posts. Doring backed up an incisive run by No.9 Ryan Martin, also one of the Roosters' best, inside the Magpies’ 20m zone to cross under the uprights.
In the 42nd minute, the home side extended their lead when winger Jordan Graff crossed in the left-hand corner.
Werris Creek replied in the 51st minutes through a four-pointer to dangerous No.6 Harlee Millgate, who took full advantage of a great ball from Berry inside the Roosters’ 20 – with Berry, last year’s Greater Northern Tigers under-23 No.7, in full flight at that stage as he propelled his side forward. Berry converted, and it was 26-16.
In the 58th minute, Magpies centre Kieran Williams posted his second try, touching down in the left-hand corner on the back of a penetrating run from Millgate inside the Creek’s 20. Berry converted, and it was 26-22.
Three minutes later, Berry orchestrated the try of the match when he drifted across Kooty’s defensive line, moving to the left from a mid-field scrum about 20m out from the Roosters’ tryline and throwing a series of pump passes before linking with winger Brad Vidler, who scored in the corner to make it 26-26.
Martin posted a strong try from close range that Doring converted with just under 13 minutes left. Walford and Berry then combined to send the match into extra-time.
KOOTINGAL-MOONBI 36 (M Doring, B Parry, J Graff, J Sharpe, J McLoughlin, R Martin, K Cochrane tries; M Doring 4 goals) d WERRIS CREEK 32 (K Williams 2, B Vidler, J Addo, H Millgate, J Walford tries, S Berry 4 goals)
