Thirlmere and The Oaks played out an entertaining 34-34 draw at Thirlmere Sportsground on Sunday afternoon in round 8 of the Group Six rugby league premiership. MIKE SHEAN reports:
Fine and cool conditions greeted players and spectators, while the ground was in excellent condition, considering the rain which hit the region earlier in the week.
Both sides were aware of the circumstances around the game, with the Roosters and Tigers looking to climb their way up the ladder as the halfway mark of the season approaches.
Matthew Jones opened the scoring for Thirlmere after five minutes when a grubber kick into the in-goal rebounded off a Tigers player’s leg allowing Jones to pounce on the ball.
The Tigers responded through Ben Scambary, when captain Mitch Brasington set up the try for his second rower.
This was followed by another from Ronnie Heise shortly after, and the Tigers jumped to a 10-4 lead.
Thirlmere returned serve, in what became the pattern of the game, with Sione Kaivelata scoring the first of his double after 24 minutes, levelling the scores at 10-10 24 minutes into the match.
Mitch Brasington scored for the Tigers five minutes before halftime, when a brilliantly worked scrumbase move with halfback Bryce Hoskin saw Brasington cross untouched.
Matthew Lee opened the scoring for the Roosters after the halftime interval with a long range try involving several of the Roosters’ backs.
Braydan Goulding responded for the Tigers, restoring their six point lead 10 minutes into the second half. Tigers prop Ross Brown bagged a double in the second half, but Sione Tovo interrupted the scoring for the Roosters to keep hope of a victory with just over 10 minutes left.
Adnan El-Zbaidieh crossed with six minutes on the clock, and then Kaivelata’s second try with three minutes left levelled the scores, and kept Roosters fans hopes alive.
The Roosters almost pinched the win in the last minute, when halfback Blake Sutton’s field goal attempt sailed just wide of the right upright, meaning the scores would end level at 34-34.
Thirlmere coach David Greene was a relieved man after the match.
Greene admitted his side had been guilty of being complacent, and that The Oaks deserved the win more.
“We need to work on our completion rate if we are to have a chance of winning more matches during the season.’’
Greene singled out Sutton as one of his better performers, along with Sione Tovo and fullback Riley Nairn, who made several good runs during the day.
ROUND 8 RESULTS – FIRST GRADE:
Mittagong Lions 30 Appin Dogs 28;
Narellan Jets 18 Moss Vale Dragons 14;
Oakdale Workers 10 Camden Rams 52;
Thirlmere Roosters 34 The Oaks Tigers 34;
Picton Magpies 54 Campbelltown City 4.
RESERVE GRADE:
Mittagong 18 Appin 16;
Narellan 84 Moss Vale 0;
Oakdale 10 Camden 40;
Thirlmere 46 The Oaks 22;
Picton 28 Campbelltown City 28.
UNDER 18 (1):
Narellan 58 Moss Vale 8;
Thirlmere 30 Warragamba Wombats 8;
Picton 12 Campbelltown City 30.
UNDER 18 (2):
Mittagong 40 Campbelltown City 10;
Camden Rams Red 4 The Oaks 52;
SECOND DIVISION:
Mt Annan Knights 52 Warragamba Wombats 12;
Bowral Blues 0 Robertson Spuddies 19’
Narellan Jets Blue 21 Narellan Jets White 14;
Picton Magpies 8 Bundanoon Highlanders 18.
NEXT WEEK – ROUND 9 FIRST GRADE FIXTURES:
Moss Vale vs Appin (6pm Saturday);
Camden vs Thirlmere (7.30pm Saturday);
Campbelltown City vs The Oaks (2.30pm Sunday Campbelltown Stadium);
Oakdale vs Narellan (2.30pm Sunday);
Picton vs Mittagong (2.30pm Sunday).
