The opening 15 minutes of the Christie & Hood Castlereagh Rugby League major semi-final clash between the Gulgong Terriers and the Cobar Roosters at Gulgong on Saturday were pivotal to the outcome of what was a gripping encounter between the two sides.
And while Gulgong did eventually finish with a 34-28 win, the Roosters proved they were worthy adversaries.
In the first 15 minutes of Saturday’s game the Terriers piled on 18 unanswered points and looked set to coast away to a very big win.
That however was not to be the case, with the Roosters climbing back up off the canvas to have the scoreboard locked up at 24-all midway through the second half.
It was then that the Roosters were looking as if they might be the first team to lower Gulgong’s colours this year.
With hosting rights for the 2023 grand final on the line, the final quarter of the match was an intense affair with the Terriers edging ahead 30-24 with 15 minutes remaining and then the Roosters responding seven minutes later with a try out wide to have the scoreboard reading
30-28.
Gulgong supporters breathed a little easier when an unconverted try put them ahead 34-28 with four minutes left on the clock, but the tension was palpable until the final siren sounded, and the Terriers had survived one very strong challenge from the Roosters.
Cobar’s tries were scored by Ashley Davies, captain/coach Thomas Plater, Tadgh McMullen, Gerald Mackay and Zane Taylor with Plater converting four goals.
The Roosters host Narromine at Tom Knight Memorial Oval this Saturday in the preliminary final with the winner to play Gulgong in the grand final.
It’s a “Last Chance Saloon” showdown for Cobar.
The winner will live to fight another day, that day being the following Saturday in the Castlereagh League grand final, when their assignment will be to end the Gulgong Bull Terriers thus far undefeated season.
Cobar and Narromine’s two meetings throughout the year would indicate that home ground advantage does not necessarily equate to winning the game, with the Jets winning
36-26 at Cobar in Round 4, and the Roosters returning serve with a 24-20 win at Narromine in Round 13.
The Jets will be hoping for a kindly result to be forthcoming from the Judiciary after their dynamic winger and one of their major strike players, Freddie Joji, was sent off in last Sunday’s big minor semi-final win over Dunedoo.
Certainly, the Roosters would be none too disappointed to see him not be able to take the field on Saturday.
The sides seem evenly matched in almost every position with the battle of the two half backs, and captain/coaches, Thomas Plater for the Roosters and Doug Potter for the Jets being a highlight of the game.
Roosters fullback Ash Davies, who incurred an injury last week, will have until Saturday to prove his fitness
No doubt the Roosters supporters and players will be relishing playing at home after being on the road for the past six weeks and a huge Cobar presence is expected to cram into Tom Knight Memorial Oval which may well get the home side home.
The Jets however will also be well supported having their League Tag side also playing on the day, again against Cobar, in the curtain raiser to the First Grade clash.
