KOOTINGAL-Moonbi Roosters converted an 18-6 halftime lead into a 28-16 preliminary final win over Narrabri and a fairytale berth in this Saturday's second-grade grand final against Manilla.
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The Roosters struck first through big and burly prop Brodie Sowter and were 12-nil up when Leroy Livermore scored a brilliant try, stealing the ball from a Narrabri opponent after the Blues had won a scrum in their own quarter and racing over untouched.
Robert Condron hit back for Narrabri to make it 12-6 but Livermore's break just before halftime ended in Tom Gould scoring in the corner two tackles later.
Dusti Munn added a penalty goal just after halftime to edge the Roosters out to 20-6 but the Blues stormed back into contention when hooker Shaun Fogarty scored in the corner.
When David Toomey sold the best dummy of the season to waltz over under the posts, the Blues were down 20-16.
When Toomey's 40-20 kick sent the Blues onto the attack again, they looked like over running the Roosters late but a shepherding penalty cost them dearly.
Livermore then popped up and skipped out of two or three tackles to send Ryley Taylor over for the match-sealing try.
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Dustin Munn added another penalty goal and the side had earned a berth in the grand final.
In just their first year the Roosters second graders have excelled all season. Captain-coach Damien Allan led from the front with his faithful assistant Munn also excelling while also kicking six goals.
"It was a tough game," Allan admitted. "We made some silly mistakes and gave up some penalties but once we started to hold the ball we started to score some points.
"Narrabri were tough, have been all year and pushed us all the way."
He thought Munn was outstanding in the middle, with front-rowers Brodie Sowter and club president Clarence "Lad" Jones.
Livermore was outstanding again and Taylor as well.
Narrabri coach Ashley Hynch was disappointed with the result but not the effort from his Blues.
"We were always in the game," he said. "Silly little mistakes let us down.
"Kootingal used the breeze well and made the most of their opportunities. We've also come back well, after folding last year, to run third.
"Would have loved to made the grand final but Kooty played well and got through their sets."
He thought Nathan Harvey "had a blinder" and Noel Mason also starred.
He added: "Normie Lawler sparked us when he came on and Aaron Annis-Brown and Jeff Harvey were great off the bench. Shaun Fogarty was great and Jacob Hayne is a great little player, only 19."
Kootingal-Moonbi 28 (Brodie Sowter, Leroy Livermore, Tom Gould, Ryley Taylor tries; Dustin Munn 6 goals) d Narrabri 16 (Robert Condron, Shaun Fogarty, David Toomey tries; Robert Doolan 2 goals)
