Jordan Sharpe scored two excellent solo tries and then landed the extra-time field goal that condemned North Tamworth to another loss, as the competition leaders won a Jack Woolaston Oval thriller 19-18.
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Watched by a bumper crowd, the match had a finals feel to it as the lead changed several times - before Sharpe stood tall in the first five minutes of added time.
His some 20m field goal was greeted with glee by his teammates, who converged on him and then continued celebrating as they left the field.
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After winning their 47th consecutive home match when they beat Moree in round five, the Bears have now lost two of their past three home games.
Had fullback Livinai Tuicakau slotted his field goal attempt from in front early into golden-point territory, the Bears would have avenged a 30-12 round two loss to the Roosters at Kootingal. The six-time reigning premiers have lost three of their past four matches.
Kootingal-Moonbi, conversely, have won six straight chasing their debut first-grade title. Not for the first time this year, Roosters coach Geoff Sharpe was "real proud" of his players.
"The boys stayed composed in that extra time," he said, adding: "That's semi-final football, that today."
Norths scored first early in the contest when Kooty failed to defuse a cross-field kick, with young winger Amachai Roberts ideally placed to pounce and score. Jake McManus missed the conversion: 4-0.
![WEAPONISED: Roosters centre Liam Hatch explodes into action. WEAPONISED: Roosters centre Liam Hatch explodes into action.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KUhQizDbwW8WqAyPP4x5yp/13b7bdf1-c99d-4d49-8618-da541cc5226a.JPG/r0_0_2868_2848_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
After a threatening period, Sharpe charged on to a pass down the blindside and crashed over out wide. No 7 Sam Taylor converted: 6-4 to Kooty.
It was 12-4 when veteran forward Kyle Cochrane smashed his way over the line, sparking a hearty celebration.
At that moment, North Tamworth looked disjointed - and it remained 12-4 at half-time.
![SPECIAL: Kooty celebrate the win. SPECIAL: Kooty celebrate the win.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KUhQizDbwW8WqAyPP4x5yp/8c283a08-816b-4a22-9eae-0a097deaa058.JPG/r0_0_1974_1311_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The Bears elevated significantly after the break, and were rewarded for that vim after young lock Mark Simon steamed on to a Brock Wadwell pass close to the tryline. McManus converted from in front: 12-10 to Kooty.
Norths took the lead when super-sub Wadwell sparked an excellent play inside the Roosters' 20m zone, the ball passing through several hands before second-rower Dan Kelly finished it off. McManus converted: 16-12 to Norths.
The Roosters hit back after a Sharpe show-and-go saw him race through a gaping hole close to the tryline. Taylor converted: 18-16 to Kooty.
![GAME ON: Dan Kelly's four-pointer sparks short-lived jubilation. GAME ON: Dan Kelly's four-pointer sparks short-lived jubilation.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/KUhQizDbwW8WqAyPP4x5yp/c4fc5a02-91c3-462b-b65a-d0a0ad1d2d69.JPG/r44_0_2927_2435_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
McManus then landed a late penalty goal to tie it up at full-time.
Kootingal-Moonbi 19 (J Sharpe 2, K Cochrane tries; S Taylor 3 goals; Sharpe field goal) d North Tamworth 18 (A Roberts, M Simon, D Kelly ties; J McManus 3 goals).