U/11s Roosters do-or-die semi golden point win
Wednesday August 19, 2009
The Cobar Roosters Under 11s rugby league team won their do-or-die semi final match against St Johns Blue in thrilling style on Saturday, with the game decided by golden points in extra time.
The Cobar side travelled to Dubbo on Saturday morning lacking a full complement of players with coach Rhys Power having to make late positional changes following an injury to his key playmaker Jackson Hourn.
He opted to push skillful fullback Max Hillier up into the five-eighth position which immediately proved to be successful.
The first set after the kick-off resulted in a quick turn over for the Cobar team which allowed a slick backline move for Hillier to score out wide, which he followed up with a conversion.
The young Roosters looked to have St Johns’ measure but the Dubbo side fought back to even the score at 6-all at half time.
The second half was a repeat of the first with the ascendancy going back and forth between both teams.
Cobar were well served in attack by Ethan Bereyne, fill-in captain James Goonrey, Patrick Hallcroft and Jarred Harvey.
Bereyne topped off a great first half effort with a try in the second half which was converted by Goonrey however St Johns replied to level the scores at 12-all with only a minute left on the clock.
At full time the scores were still dead-locked and golden point was needed to determine a winner.
St Johns kicked off and it looked as if the Cobar side had won when Claude Beitz dove on a loose ball over the line however the referee had blown his whistle and awarded a penalty in Cobar’s favour and the ball had to be played.
Goonrey then barged over to score the winning try for Cobar.
Cobar’s strong defence throughout the game was capably handled by Tilly Power and Will Hinds with dominant games played by both halves Hillier and Jay Ellison.
The side will travel once again to Dubbo this week for another do-or-die match, with the winner to go onto the grand final.—contributed
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