From the outset the Cobar Roosters came out firing in their Castlereagh Youth League grand final game on Saturday and, despite a fightback by the Gulgong Bull Terriers, Cobar finished with a thrilling
18-16 win, albeit in extra time.
The Cobar boys were switched on from the get-go and within two minutes Jayden Greenwood had crossed for their first points.
Greenwood’s try came from a spot on grubber kick by Reece Josephson which found its mark in goal and Greenwood regathered to score. Cobar captain Tadgh McMullen, who led his side well all game, coolly converted to give the Roosters an early 6-0 lead.
Shortly after the heavily marked Josephson (who was named Player of the Grand Final and Youth League Player of the Year) made a break and passed off to Jayden Paul who raced over out wide to score.
McMullen’s conversion from the sideline took the Roosters’ lead out to 12-0 after just 10 minutes of play.
Gulgong re-grouped and used the experience of the three Western Division players in their side. The Bull Terriers went on to score the next two tries to narrow the margin to
12-8 going into the half time break.
Roosters’ coach Paul Sullivan was always confident Cobar would prevail, but when Gulgong locked up the scores at 12-all seven minutes into the second half, he would have surely been a bit nervous at that stage.
Given it was a very warm day, Sullivan made the most of the unlimited interchange rule and made sure he kept his forward pack as fresh as possible as the Gulgong team attempted to punch holes through the centre of the Cobar defence.
Sullivan’s tactics worked and the scores were still locked at 12-all at full time.
Sullivan said he was somewhat relieved when the game went into extra time as it would give the Roosters a chance to re-group.
And re-group they did! They again came out firing and Josephson crossed in the first set.
McMullen’s sideline kick was again spot on and it would be the decider after Gulgong scored an unconverted try in the second half of extra time.
Sullivan said it was hard to name a standout in the match as “they all played really well”.
“Gulgong concentrated on containing Reece but he still made an impact, Tadgh kicked well and tackled well, Joe Webster and Jamal Eves both lifted their games—all the boys made the most of the opportunity they were given and we sort of got the fairytale finish.”
