THE NAMBUCCA Roosters secured a thrilling 22-14 win over the Sawtell Panthers in their Round 3 Group 2 fixture on Sunday at Coronation Park, Nambucca Heads.
Playing conditions were lousy by the time the senior team hit the paddock, with three games already played throughout the day.
Players were soon covered in mud, creating a genuine challenge for match officials to distinguish one team from the other.
Some in the crowd were heard referring to the Mother’s Day game as “Mudder’s Day”.
Coming off solid Round 2 victories, both sides were keen to maintain their winning form.
As a result the match tempo, right from kick-off, was hectic.
The Roosters drew first blood with a great team try from Dane Saunders, not converted.
The ability of both sides to be able to hang onto the ball, given the muddy conditions, was a feature of the early stages of the game.
Sawtell nearly struck back with 20 minutes gone from the half, when points seemed certain from a chip kick and a race for the line, however the Roosters defenders got there first.
Two minutes later the Panthers’ Jake Thornton, finding cracks in the defensive line, opened his side’s account with a try. The conversion was successful from Mikaere Beattie, and Sawtell led 6-4.
With 14 minutes left in the half the Roosters were able to exploit a dropped ball by Sawtell in their danger zone.
Tyreece Sines burst across the line to put the Roosters back in front, not converted, the score 8-6.
The evenly-matched sides slogged it out for another 10 minutes before quick hands and quick thinking got the ball to Roosters winger Dwayne Roberts Jarrett for a try in the corner.
Logan Jones nailed the conversion and the Roosters extended their lead to 14-6.
With just two minutes left in the first half Dwayne Roberts Jarrett scored in the corner again, this time off the back of a superbly placed grubber kick by Tyreece Sines.
The try was not converted, leaving the half time score at 18-6.
With the knowledge that a win was still within reach, the Panthers began the second half with renewed vigour.
Within minutes Panthers fullback Jake Thornton scored his second try of the day, however the conversion was missed.
The score now 18-10, Sawtell were completing sets well despite the poor conditions, and put more points on the board eight minutes later when a Kalani Morris try closed the gap to 18-14.
With the game on a knife edge the impressively large contingent of Panthers supporters and energised home crowd were on their feet enjoying a thrilling game of rugby league.
An extended tussle for points then played out, with the defensive work of both sides providing a great example of how the game is played.
The stalemate on the field was broken on the bell by the Roosters prop Khan Jarrett, who scored in the left corner to close out the game in spectacular fashion.
In the U/18s clash the Roosters’ young guns were too good for the visitors and, while the Panthers showed some flair, the home side refused to take their foot off the pedal and won convincingly 28-8.
The Women’s Tackle was a great game to watch and the Roosters ladies took it to the reigning premiers, showing real improvement in all aspects of their game however went down 16-22.
The Reserve Grade game was the crowd pleaser of the day and both teams put in a big effort for their clubs.
In a game that could have gone either way, the Panthers took the win 16-20.
By Mick BIRTLES
