Thirlmere Roosters were one game short of premiership glory last year but they are starting to look like they could go all the way in 2018.
A hard-fought win over Mittagong on the weekend will hold them in good stead as the Group 6 Rugby League season heads towards a premiership climax.
The Roosters held off Mittagong to win 33-26 on Sunday afternoon, in a game which went down to the wire, reports MIKE SHEAN, of Macarthur Sports Radio:
Mittagong, who were marking 30 years since their 1988 premiership win, with many former players in attendance, started poorly, with Thirlmere hooker Adam Campbell scoring after just 7 minutes.
Bailey Nairn added to the misery for the Lions’ supporters, who made a trip to the Highlands on a perfect afternoon for rugby league, as the Roosters led 10-0 after 16 minutes.
Finally, the Lions started to roar, with Jye Frazer being the first of the home side to score a try, as they slowly started to find some form on 20 minutes.
Blake Sutton returned serve with the Thirlmere fullback diffusing a bomb and giving the Roosters a 16-4 lead – stealing all the momentum from the home side.
Steve Kemp scored minutes later, and the Roosters’ lead extended to 20-4, with the home fans starting to get nervous, as the halftime siren approached.
Thankfully for their supporters, the Lions struck back just before the siren, with Jake Isedale scoring the first of his two tries for the afternoon.
The halftime score was Thirlmere 20-10, but the Lions were still in the hunt.
Lions coach Dan Beardshaw would have been asking his side for more commitment in the second half and hoping they could find a way through the Thirlmere defence.
Unfortunately for the home side, the message didn’t get far, as Jake Mullaney scored four minutes after the resumption of play.
With the score in Thirlmere’s favour at 26-10, it appeared as though the Roosters were going to run away with the game from this point.
However, Mittagong had other plans, as they worked their way back into the game.
Isedale bagged his second 15 minutes into the second half, before Frazer scored his second with 17 minutes to go.
Suddenly the scoreline read 26-20 and the game was well and truly up for grabs.
There was plenty of tension in the game as the final siren drew closer.
Jake Merceica sliced open the Thirlmere defence, and with the conversion from in front of the posts, the game was level, with eight minutes remaining.
Jake Mullaney appeared to seal the win for Thirlmere with three minutes left, as he kicked a field goal, to restore Thirlmere’s lead at 27-26.
Kemp scored the final try of the day on the fulltime siren, as the Roosters’ held on for a 33-26 win, securing their position in the Top Five with two weeks remaining in the season.
RESULTS – FIRST GRADE
The Oaks Tigers 56 Campbelltown City 32;
Mittagong Lions 26 Thirlmere Roosters 33;
Narellan Jets 16 Picton Magpies 34.
RESERVE GRADE
Oran Park 46 Camden 0;
The Oaks 18 Campbelltown City 16;
Mittagong 50 Thirlmere 12;
Narellan 12 Picton 14;
Oakdale 6 Appin 32.
UNDER 18 – Mittagong 40 Thirlmere 32;
Narellan 28 Picton 32;
Mt Annan Oakdale 12 Moss Vale 0;
Warragamba 14 Camden 38.
LEAGUE TAG
Oran Park 4 Camden 30;
Narellan 44 Picton 4;
Mittagong 0 Thirlmere 62;
City Gold 0 City Blue 52;
Oakdale 4 Moss Vale 0.
SECOND DIVISION
Bowral Blues 26 Thirlmere Roosters 22;
Narellan 20 Picton 26;
Warragamba Wombats 4 Oran Park 0.
NEXT WEEK – ROUND 17 (First grade only, home teams listed first)
Campbelltown City v Moss Vale;
Thirlmere v Narellan;
Picton v The Oaks
(All Sunday 2.30pm).
