The dream of an all Campbelltown grand final in the Macarthur Conference rugby league premiership is still alive after yesterday’s sensational double header at Waminda Oval.
East Campbelltown, the minor premiers, are through to the inaugural decider of the new competition after a superlative effort to down Camden Rams 38-14 in the major semi final.
Campbelltown City Kangaroos did it the hard way in the minor semi final, not scoring any points in the first half against the Picton Magpies.
The Kangaroos were 18-0 down at the break but completely dominated the second half to run out 24-20 victors.
Next Sunday the Kangaroos will take on Camden Rams in the preliminary final, with the winner qualifying for the big dance against the Eagles at Campbelltown Stadium a week later.
It has to be said that the Macarthur Conference came alive for the first time yesterday at Waminda Oval.
A huge crowd of close to 2,000 fans were inside the fence at the home ground of the East Campbelltown club, a number that must be some sort of a record for this level of community rugby league.
The sun was shining for most of the afternoon and there was a carnival atmosphere around the ground.
In a way it was a celebration of all the good things that rugby league has offered for more than 110 years.
In the major semi it was the Rams who opened the scoring after 10 minutes, but the Eagles did not waste any time responding in kind to make it 4-4.
Camden took the lead when they bagged their second try to make it 8-4, but failed to convert once again.
Four minutes from half time the Eagles pounced to score in the right hand corner, and converted the try- to lead 10-8 for the first time in the match.
That confidence booster was exactly what the home side needed, and they came out firing in the second half.
Three minutes in they scored to extend their lead to 16-8, amid signs Camden were fatigued.
It did not help that the visitors were running uphill and into the wind, and before they knew it the Eagles scored again to go to 22-8.
And then momentum suddenly changed, as it so often does in this game.
Camden started dominating possession and the result was a try to reduce the deficit to 22-14 – and it was game on, at least for a few minutes.
Unfortunately, this turned out to be Camden’s last ditch effort to save the game.
The Eagles soon settled down and used their big men to remind Camden who was boss out there.
Another try to them made the score 26-14, which was extended to 28-14 when Eagles took the two points on offer from a penalty in front of the sticks.
Two more tries to the Eagles and victory was theirs, 38-14 over a gallant Camden side.
The second semi final which followed straight after, between Campbelltown City and Picton Magpies, was a game of two halves.
Picton scored three tries to nil to get to the half time break leading 18-0.
But it was all Campbelltown in the second stanza, who stormed to a 20-18 lead, before Picton kicked a penalty goal to make it 20-20.
And just when everyone though the game would turn into a field goal battle, the Roos scored to make it 24-20 and snatch a victory for the ages.
RESULTS:
East Campbelltown Eagles def Camden Rams 38-14
Campbelltown City Kangaroos def Picton Magpies 24-20
NEXT WEEK:
Preliminary final – Camden Rams v Campbelltown City Kangaroos – Sunday 3pm, Thirlmere Sportsground
