KOOTINGAL Roosters weathered a late Boggabri charge to grab two valuable Group 4 first grade premiership points at Jubilee Oval, Boggabri on Saturday.
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The Roosters won 24-22 after leading 18-6 at halftime and after taking a 24-12 lead midway through the second half.
Two late tries, one a stunning one-on-one strip and 50m sprint by second rower Jay "Willy" Urquhart, clawed the home side back into the game.
The Boggabri Roos, who had led 6-nil after Nick Millar's stunning short range try in the first minute, were gallant and almost on equal terms when Bailey Lennox crashed over for his second try with a few minutes left.
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Unfortunately Jayde Campbell's conversion just missed and the Roos couldn't snatch a late try to win the game.
For the home side the game started so well when Nick Millar took a quick tap and charged over in the first minute to stun the visitors and enthral the home spectators.
However the Roosters fought back from a poor start and Jordan Sharpe created a chance from a short grubber kick for fullback Anthony Smith to score after 17 minutes. Smith converted to make it 6-all.
Five minutes later Rooster backrower Logan Howard looked like he was certain to score under the posts as he charged onto a short pass but a brilliant, strong tackle from hooker Steve Taylor repelled the certain try.
However in the next play Jordan Sharpe sliced over from short range to take a six point lead before Sharpe then set up Brad Vidler for the utility to score under the posts and grab a 12 point half time lead.
Boggabri centre Bailey Lennox gave his side the start it wanted when he scored following Jayde Campbell's pinpoint wide pass but Rooster reserve, Ryley Taylor, restored the 12-point lead when he dived over under the posts.
The Roos hopes escalated 11 minutes from full time when Jay Urquhart stripped a Rooster attacker inside his own half then sprinted for the northern end of Jubilee Oval, the end that long time Roos supporter Peter Rees reckons is the right end.
Down 24-18 the surged and when Bailey Lennox and replacement hooker Mikey Long worked a short inside play close to the line Lennox was able to reach out and score.
It was as close as they got as time ran out and Roos coach Shane Rampling lamented too many errors.
"Every time we scored a try we lost the ball from the kick off," Shane Rampling said.
"We couldn't settle it down made silly mistakes. We'd have them under the pump but then make a stupid mistake. It's frustrating. Shouldn't have gone to half time down 18-6, just played some dumb football but to our credit we fought back."
Kootingal coach Geoff Sharpe also dealt his side a huge spray after the game.
"We had a terrible start," Geoff Sharpe said of the stunning 6-nil position inside a minute.
"Then we were down to 12 men," he said of Kyle Cochrane's sinbinning from the early try after backchatting referee James Brown.
"We slowed it down and scored some good tries and went forward from some good kicks."
The second half, he said, was poor.
Second half penalties and some poor ball control invited the home side back into the game.
"Dumb stuff," Geoff Sharpe said.
He said it was good having Jordan Sharpe back from a week's suspension and thought left edge backrower Logan Howard was outstanding.
"I thought he was great for us," he said while also praising the efforts of Ryley Taylor, Leroy O'Leary and Cody Roberts. They all played second grade but worked hard off the bench.
"Gees I'm sore," Cody Roberts said after showering and responding to a friend congratulating him on his effort off the bench.
"The three of them all played second grade and gave us good minutes."
Lightweight backrower Liam Hatch was named the Rooster players player.
Nick Millar was one of the best for the Roos the big number eight making good inroads all game and coming up with a smart early try.
"He ran the ball hard, tackled hard all game," coach Rampling said.
"Bailey Lennox stood up to. Scored two good tries and ran the ball hard."
Kahn Juhnke also worked hard and offloaded in traffic a number of times. Ben Haire rumbled the ball up strongly throughout and Urquhart, despite a bout of flu, produced a sparkling moment to ignite the home side. Fullback Cameron Lewington was also safe all game.
First grade: KOOTINGAL 24 (Jordan Sharpe, Anthony Smith, Brad Vidler, Ryley Taylor tries, Smith 4gls) d BOGGABRI 22 (Bailey Lennox 2, Nick Millar, Jay Urquhart tries, Jayde Campbell 3gls) B&F: 3 Anthony Smith (K), 2 Nick Millar (B), 1 Ben Williams (K).
Second grade: KOOTINGAL 62 (Aaron Hall 2, Marshall Field 2, Leroy Livermore 2, Jesse O'Leary, Benny O'Leary, Brody Cummins, William Beale, Josh Vale, Michael Rutherford tries, Leroy Livermore 5, William Beale, Dylan Middleton gls) d BOGGABRI 6 (Hawken Durrant try, Lochie Flemming gl) B&F: 3 Aaron Hall (K), 2 Leroy Livermore (K), 1 Tyler Flemming (B)
Ladies League Tag: BOGGABRI 12 (Grace Jaeger, Sophie Hendrie tries, Cassidy Morley 2gls) drew with KOOTINGAL 12 (Abby Schmiedel 2, Natalie Nean tries) B&F: 3 Abby Schmiedel (K), 2 Cloe Davis (B), 1 Courtney Grace-Coggan (B).