East Campbelltown Eagles have kept their finals hopes alive with a hard fought 18-16 win over Mittagong at a freezing cold Waminda Oval yesterday.
Eagles scored the first try of the match, but Mittagong bagged the next two tries to lead 12-4 for much of the first half. Momentum shifted in the latter part of the first half, and it was only Mittagong’s scrambling defence that stopped the home side from adding points to their tally.
With 10 minutes to go the Eagles finally breached the Mittagong wall to reduce the deficit to 12-10 going into the break.
With their season on the line, the gritty Eagles scored two tries to one in the second half to emerge with the two vital premiership points.
The four tries to three win helped Eagles jump to fifth spot on the ladder with 20 premiership points.
With just one round left in the regular season, it will be a three way battle for that last finals spot this weekend.
That’s because The Oaks Tigers and Picton Magpies are also on 20 points, but the Eagles have a superior for and against record.
The Eagles have a very tough assignment coming up on Sunday when they head to Camden to take on the Rams, who wrapped up the minor premiership with victory over the Kangaroos in Campbelltown.
But based on their performance yesterday, the Eagles will be confident they have what it takes to upset the Rams and sneak into the 2023 Macarthur Conference finals.
Mittagong, who have been riding high most of the season, made the Eagles work hard for their victory yesterday afternoon.
The Lions did have something to celebrate though: four brothers – Thomas, Joseph, Nicholas and David Eccleston – playing in first grade against the Eagles (pictured).
Elsewhere in round 17 of the premiership, South West Goannas went close to their first win of the season yesterday at Onslow Oval.
The Goannas, who went down 24-18 to Narellan Jets, head to Oakdale this weekend to tackle the Workers in the final round of the competition.
RESULTS – ROUND 17:
The Oaks Tigers 18 Oakdale Workers 32
Campbelltown Collegians 22 Thirlmere Roosters 44
Campbelltown Kangaroos 16 Camden Rams 50
South West Goannas 18 Narellan Jets 24
East Campbelltown Eagles 18 Mittagong Lions 16
Bye: Picton Magpies
NEXT WEEK – ROUND 18 – Saturday, August 19, 6.30pm:
Thirlmere Roosters v Picton Magpies
SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 3PM:
Campbelltown Kangaroos v The Oaks Tigers
Camden Rams v East Campbelltown Eagles
Mittagong Lions v Campbelltown Collegians
Oakdale Workers v South West Goannas
Bye: Narellan Jets
