A feast of footy was served up in week one of the 2018 Group Six finals.
The two semis – played at Mittagong Sportsground on Sunday – had almost everything.
In the wash up Mittagong Lions became the first team to be eliminated from the finals after going down to Camden 34-10.
It was a most remarkable game of two halves in the earlier semi final where The Oaks Tigers romped to a huge 36-4 lead in the first half, but were almost mowed down by Thirlmere Roosters in the second stanza.
The Tigers held on to win 36-32 and will now play minor premiers Picton Magpies in the qualifying final.
It will be part of another huge double-header on Sunday at Harvey Shephard Field, Camden, where the Roosters, last year’s losing grand finalists, will try to keep their season alive against the Rams.
As MIKE SHEAN, of Macarthur Sports Radio, reports, Thirlmere just ran out of time when they lost to the Tigers.
The Tigers charged out of the blocks, leading 12-0 after eight minutes, and 16-0 after 13 minutes when Rory Vale bagged his second try of the half.
He bagged another to put a hat trick next to his name while Mitchell Brasington had a blinder, pulling the strings in attack – scoring himself and setting up several others with placement kicks across the field and well timed passes.
Another bonus for the Tigers was the injury to Thirlmere fullback and captain coach Jake Mullaney, who came off after 25 minutes, and didn’t return to the field again, leaving the Roosters at a further disadvantage.
The Oaks led by an incredible 36-0 just before halftime, and it appeared as though they would run away with the match.
But the Roosters, through the coaching of Mullaney had other ideas.
Allan Shipley gave the Roosters a glimmer of hope before the break, when he scored, giving a halftime score of 36-4.
Thirlmere had their revival sparked early in the second half, and managed to maintain the momentum throughout the half, with Blake Sutton scoring a second half double, as he stepped up to lift and steer the Roosters back into the match.
But ultimately, the clock beat the Roosters, with The Oaks winning 36-32.
Camden and Mittagong did battle afterwards in the sudden-death elimination semi final, with the Rams starting the better.
Persistent showers throughout the day made play quite difficult, especially in the middle of the field and scoring was at a premium in the first half.
Steele Brown, the impressive Camden fullback, opened the scoring, with experienced halfback Chris Browne adding the other, while Mittagong bagged tries through captain Regan Economos and backrower Adam Jeffrey.
Camden, which led 12-10 at the break, dominated the second half.
The Rams scored tries at regular intervals off the back of the lion’s share of possession.
On the other hand, the home side had limited opportunities to score.
Three Rams tries in the second half, including the final try to Ben Powers, sealed the 30-14 win.
Hamish Oaksley