It was a great afternoon for the Nambucca Roosters first-grade team, who earned their first finals birth in 10 years.
The Roosters struggled when repetitive errors and penalties gifted Orara possession and field position. It was a hard fought battle, with both teams looking for the ascendency.
Orara crossed for the first points of the game, 20 minutes into the first-half, to take the lead 6-0. They crossed again five minutes later, taking control of the game by 12-0, before half-time.
The half-time score reflected Nambucca’s ill discipline. The break was welcomed by Nambucca who were looking to gain some momentum in the game.
Nambucca lifted in the second-half, gaining the much needed momentum with a well timed 40-20 kick off the boot of Gary Jarrett, giving Nambucca much needed field position, and a chance to attack the Orara line.
In no time at all, Nambucca capitalised when Warwick Jones crossed for Nambucca’s first try of the afternoon.
Michael Ronan converted, taking the score to Orara 12, Nambucca 6. Nambucca then went to task, grinding away at the Orara defence; Eventually the Roosters broke through when Michael Ronan crossed for a try out wide, moving the score to 12-10. Nambucca then had running room and hit the front when Jason Jarrett crossed from dummy half. Michael Ronan added the extras, which saw Nambucca take the lead by 16 points to 12.
Orara desperately tried to regain the lead, but the Nambucca defence was strong, withstanding anything that Orara threw their way.
Gary Jarrett extended Nambucca’s lead with ten minutes to go, when he muscled his way through the line to put the ball down and extend Nambucca’s lead to 22-12, with a successful conversion.
One Minute later Gary Jarrett extended this lead further, with a field goal taking the score to 23-12. From this point on Nambucca took complete control of the game.
Kade Welsh scored the final try of the afternoon, breaking five tackles and running over the line from 20-metres out.
Gary Jarrett scored the last points of the afternoon when he kicked one final field goals, moving the final score to 28-12.
Players’-player was Dean Urquhart, who announced his retirement and unfortunately had his last game for the season – after suffering a dislocated shoulder during the game.
Jayden Austen, from Under-18s, showed that he can hold his own in the big world, managing to make his presence felt.
Next week sees the third local derby of the year, when Nambucca takes on Macksville in the elimination final at Macksville on Saturday.
It promises to be a great game with both teams desperate to stay alive in the competition. Both Under-18s and reserve-grade played their last games of the season.
It was a disappointing finish for Under-18s, who have showed some promising form during the season. However, with many of their key players out, it was always going to be a difficult task.
Jai Whaddy , Silas Robbins and Jake Russo played up from the Under-16s, but they were still down to 12 players by the end of the game.
Jayden Austen showed his speed, when he took the ball from the scrum on half way and put the ball down over the line for the second try of the game. Brandon Davis-King converted.
Mark Bryen put the next points on the board, when he pushed over the line from the play the ball. Brandon Davis- King converted.
Orara ran in two more tries before half-time, to take the score to Orara 16, Nambucca 12.
Nambucca hit the front early in the second-half, when Harrison McMahon put the ball down after running on to a perfectly placed kick across field from Silas Robbins. Brandon Davis King converted to take Nambucca’s score to 18.
Unfortunately lack of bench numbers took its toll and Nambucca had no answer to Orara’s further five tries, making the final score Nambucca 18, Orara 42.
Reserve-grade suffered a crushing defeat, going down four points to 78. Joseph Blair put the only points on the board in the first-half, showing great heart throughout the game.
Pete Ling was there in support but Orara managed to score in the next play.
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