Premiers Campbelltown City upset Thirlmere Roosters 50-34 at Tony Norton Field on Sunday to give them a faint hope of defending their title.
After an ordinary start to the season, the Kangaroos have now won two in a row.
They are just two points out of the top five.
This coming Sunday they head out to the Southern Highlands to take on the Mittagong Lions, who are in fifth spot on the ladder.
This round 13 match could well decide the fate of the Kangaroos in 2018.
The Lions won’t be a pushover, especially after going down to the resurgent Camden Rams 36-26 on the weekend.
The Rams held on for a 36-26 win, despite the Lions making consistent and multiple charges to try and break the Camden line in a 10 try thriller, reports MIKE SHEAN, of Macarthur Sports Radio:
The opening stages of this game were very even, with both sides struggling to find a way through the opposition defensive line.
The goal-line defence from both teams was at a high standard, with the Rams and Lions knowing how much was on the line as we head into the business end of the season.
Camden opened the scoring on 15 minutes through young fullback Steele Brown, who has been impressive in recent weeks for the Rams.
Returning halfback Chris Browne scored a nice try at 25 minutes, after a chip-and-chase on the last tackle sat up for him.
Luke Pollard scored minutes later for the Rams, and suddenly, with 10 minutes left in the first half, Camden led 18-0 and it was looking ominous for the visiting Lions.
Mittagong, however, don’t know how to give up, and they scored a try with six minutes left on the clock, through captain Regan Economos, and gave the vocal visiting fans something to cheer about.
At halftime, Camden led 18-6, but Mittagong coach Dan Beardshaw would have known his side had the potential, and the ability, to work their way back into the game in the second half.
The Lions responded to Beardshaw’s message, scoring only minutes after the resumption, with Economos getting his second of the afternoon and reducing the margin to just eight points.
Camden, however, weren’t prepared to roll over and concede the match.
Jack Davey gave them some breathing room with 29 minutes to go, as the Rams pushed back out to lead 24-10.
PJ Thornton had other ideas though, as Mittagong replied in kind.
Thornton steamed through some soft Camden goal-line defence as the Lions roared back to trail by eight once again.
Chris Browne scored his second try with 20 minutes left, as the teams traded tries.
But when Mittagong snapped the little run of alternating scorers after Jye Frazer and Geoff McKeown crossed for four pointers it was game on at 30-26 and still 13 minutes left.
Camden did enough to hold on, with young winger Cameron Ointmann scoring the final try to seal the win for the Rams with five minutes remaining.
The Rams held on from there to finish with a 36-26 win, pushing them up the ladder in the process.
RESULTS – FIRST GRADE
Campbelltown City 50 Thirlmere Roosters 34;
Camden Rams 36 Mittagong Lions 26;
Picton Magpies 40 Moss Vale Dragons 18.
Narellan and The Oaks – bye.
LADDER: Picton 20; The Oaks 18; Camden 17; Thirlmere 16; Mittagong 14; Campbelltown City, Narellan 12; Moss Vale 7.
RESERVE GRADE
Oran Park 24 The Oaks Tigers 4;
Campbelltown City 40 Thirlmere 20;
Camden 20 Mittagong 32;
Picton 24 Appin 24;
Narellan 38 Oakdale 6.
UNDER 18
Campbelltown City 40 Thirlmere 22;
Camden 26 Mittagong 10;
Picton 36 Moss Vale 16;
Narellan 20 Mt Annan Oakdale 8.
LEAGUE TAG
Oran Park 36 The Oaks 4;
City Blue 12 Thirlmere 4;
Picton 8 Moss Vale 12;
City Gold 18 Mittagong 10;
Narellan 66 Oakdale 0.
SECOND DIVISION
Oran Park 40 Bowral Blues 16;
Campbelltown City 40 Thirlmere 8;
Picton 16 Bundanoon Highlanders 18.
NEXT WEEK – ROUND 13 – FIRST GRADE
The Oaks v Narellan;
Mittagong v Campbelltown City;
Picton v Camden
(All Sunday 2.30pm).
