A SIGNIFICANT deluge caused the closure of Coronation Park, Nambucca Heads in the interest of player safety on Saturday, with the Group 2 Round 13 meeting of the Nambucca Roosters and the Coffs Comets postponed until Sunday.
Marking the club’s Ladies in League Round, Roosters President Peter Bellden addressed the crowd to formally recognise the role that women play in the game of rugby league, not only as players but as officials and partners and parents of players.
Although the rain had stopped falling in time for kick-off, a strong south-west wind and slushy conditions underfoot greeted the second placed Roosters at home against the fifth placed Comets.
If part of the visitors’ gameplan was to wrack-up points early, the plan worked.
With less than 10 minutes gone from the clock the Comets had crossed for two tries, scored by lock Kellen Wood and forward Henry Davies.
With the Comets looking good early and holding a 0-10 lead, it took 14 minutes for a Nambucca breakthrough.
After a penalty for a dangerous tackle metres from the line, Nambucca’s Toby Batten evaded defenders and unloaded to a charging Brody Simon who scored first points for the home side.
A successful Dwayne Roberts-Jarrett conversion reduced the deficit to 6-10, before the Roosters’ fortunes shifted again.
With less than 15 minutes left in the half, Nambucca’s Jack Margetts was sent to the bin for 10 minutes.
Roosters Captain Tyronne Roberts-Davis was then sent from the field from the remainder of the game, after appearing to seek clarification from the referee as to the reason for his teammate’s dismissal.
As decisions continued to go against the home side, the Comets patiently and systematically went on the attack, exploiting the numerical advantage.
With just over 10 minutes left in the half, Henry Davies went over for his second try.
Leading 6-14, the Comets were largely able to keep the Roosters in their danger zone until the break, with the home side having trouble breaking out of their own half.
It was a more settled Roosters outfit that took to the paddock for the second half, as Jake Saunders added to the home side’s tally after 12 minutes.
Coffs Comets fullback Liam Dunn was then sent to the bin for a dangerous tackle as the pendulum seemed to swing in favour of the Roosters.
When Jack Margetts crossed for a hard fought team try, the Roosters took the lead for the first time in the game, leading 16-14.
The advantage was short-lived however.
With just over seven minutes left in the game, Coffs Captain Macauley Dawson spotted space on the left of the Roosters’ defensive line.
Travelling three quarters of the field with the ball, Dawson crossed the line to score an impressive individual try and give his side a two point advantage with five minutes to play.
A penalty in front of the posts in the closing minutes sealed the deal for the Comets, who headed back to Coffs Harbour with a 16-20 victory.
In the minor grades, there was no Women’s Tackle match as the Roosters had a bye, the Comets U/18s forfeited their match and in Reserve Grade the Comets edged out the Roosters to take the win 18-20.
On Sunday 10 August the Roosters will host Woolgoolga at Coronation Park for a top of the table thriller that will also be the Roosters’ Indigenous Round, commencing at 11:00 when the U/18s kick off.
By Mick BIRTLES
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