Campbelltown Harlequins journeyed to Nowra on Saturday to take on third-placed Shoalhaven in what proved to be the match of the round.
The opening stanza was an absolute nail-biter, with both sides trading blows in a tense 30-minute deadlock before either team could break the line, leaving the match locked up at 7-all at the halftime mark.
The second half turned into a classic arm-wrestle.
Quins struck early following the break, with lock Ben Movock crossing for a try to seize the lead.
However, Shoalhaven dominated the next 25 minutes, riding a heavy penalty count to mount raid after raid on the Harlequin line.
Eventually, the sheer weight of possession paid off for the home side, with Shoalhaven scoring to take a late 14–12 lead with only minutes remaining on the clock.
Refusing to yield, Harlequins applied relentless defensive pressure straight from the kickoff.
They were seemingly rewarded when the ball spat out the side of a breakdown, allowing centre Ben Faavre to gather and crash over for what appeared to be the match-winning try.
However, after consultation with the assistant referee, the try was controversially disallowed.
Post-game, officials explained they concluded that if the ball came out of the breakdown, hands must have been used – a decision that left players and supporters on both sides completely baffled.
While the mounting penalty count remains an obvious area of concern for the coaching staff, the crucial bonus point secured in the loss formally guarantees the Harlequins a top-two finish heading into the finals.
Earlier in the day, Second Grade suffered a 21–12 defeat. It was a familiar story for the side, giving the opposition a head start and failing to capitalize on key opportunities.
The loss leaves the team in sixth place, bringing a tough end to their finals aspirations.
Meanwhile, back home in Campbelltown, the Harlequins Women battled Randwick in a high-stakes blockbuster with a top-two finish on the line.
In a heart-stopping finish, the women dug deep to pull off a gritty 25–23 victory.
It was a hard-fought win made even tougher by missed goal kicking attempts, but the result caps off an outstanding regular season.
Finals now await, and the best is yet to come.
THIS WEEKEND AT THE SHOWGROUND
This Saturday, First Grade returns home for a massive top-of-the-table clash against Kiama, with the minor premiership up for grabs.
The day will also feature the club’s Cultural Round, celebrating the diverse Indigenous cultures that enrich our club and sport.
The Women’s side heads off to Coogee Oval for a high-stakes rematch against Randwick, with a spot in the Grand Final on the line.
On Sunday, Campbelltown Showground will host the Junior Major and Minor Semi-Finals across all age groups. It promises to be a massive festival of rugby, so get down to the ground and support the club!
ANDREW CHOICE
