A LIGHT breeze, clear skies, and temperatures in the low twenties created ideal conditions for football, drawing a large crowd to Coronation Park in Nambucca Heads for the much-anticipated local derby between the Nambucca Roosters and the Macksville Sea Eagles.
The First Grade clash opened with the expected intensity, always present when these two Nambucca Valley teams meet.
Errors affected the ability of both teams to build points in the early stages of the game, until a duo of cheap penalties against the visitors with just eight minutes off the clock saw Nambucca’s Jake Saunders score the first try of the game.
Jacob Welsh soon crossed the line for another try for the home side, converted by Dwayne Roberts Jarrett, who was sensational with the boot for the rest of the afternoon.
Despite being down 10-0 early, Macksville quickly regrouped and improved their defensive game, before a loose ball in their danger zone was scooped up by the Roosters’ Logan Jones who got it over for a try.
The conversion by Roberts Jarrett took the score to 16-0, before a great try from Macksville’s Billy Cockbain put them back in the game.
The visitors continued to lift both the defensive and attacking aspects of their game, but a knock-on by fullback Robbie Smith close to the line set the Roosters up for another Logan Jones try.
Roberts Jarrett nailed the kick, and the Roosters leapt to a 22-6 lead.
Despite the point deficit against them the Sea Eagles lifted once again and mounted a fight back that made the rest of the game one of the season’s best.
With six minutes left in the half Macksville’s Josh Bartlett crossed the line to finish the most spectacular team try of the day, converted by Romain Pallares to the explosive applause of the Macksville supporters.
The sides went into the half-time break at 22-12 in favour of the Roosters.
Both teams hit the paddock firing in the second half and the Macksville fightback went into full throttle with just three minutes off the clock.
Zane Doolan scored the try, converted again by Pallares, reducing the deficit to four points.
After a ten minute scoreless period, the deadlock was broken by Logan Jones, scoring his third of the day after identifying an overlap on the Macksville left edge.
Roberts Jarrett nailed the conversion and the home side could breathe again, the score now 28-18.
With uncharacteristic handling errors creeping into the Roosters’ game, the visitors began to get the upper hand with possession.
Brodie Bartlett soon added to the visitors’ tally with an unconverted try, closing the gap to 28-22.
Just inside the last 10 minutes, Nambucca’s Khan Jarrett smashed through a defensive wall to score a try, converted again by Roberts Jarrett, and at 34-22 the game appeared to be slipping away from Macksville.
With less than six minutes left Macksville answered with a Wesley Brown try that was oddly soft for such an intense game.
The score now 34-28, the crowd had reached fever pitch.
In a cliffhanger finish with less than two minutes to play, Macksville crossed the line through Sam Shields, requiring only a conversion to tie the game.
The Pallares conversion attempt hit the post, breaking Macksville hearts on the field and in the stands.
The clock ran out and the Roosters got away with a 34-32 win in an absolute thriller.
In the minor grades, the Roosters U/18s defeated the Sea Eagles in a quality game of football,18-16.
The Women’s Tackle match also went the Roosters way 30-4, however the uneven score line does not tell the story of two great teams that produced an entertaining game for the Coronation Park crowd.
In the Reserve Grade it was the visitors who took away the win, Macksville defeating Nambucca 44-10.
By Mick BIRTLES
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