Roosters edge out Comets in round 6 rugby league thriller

THE Coffs Comets hosted the Nambucca Roosters on Sunday for four great games of rugby league, culminating in a first-grade thriller that could have gone either way.

The home side hit the paddock at Geoff King Motors Oval still riding high from a convincing round five win over Grafton and the visitors came north determined to redeem last week’s loss to Woolgoolga.

The Roosters drew first blood just five minutes into the game thanks to a classy individual try from Cale Ogilvy, who chip-kicked the ball between two Coffs defenders 15 meters from the line, recovered the ball and crossed next to the post.

This set up an easy conversion for Dwayne Roberts Jarrett, taking the game to 6-0.

Nambucca’s Robbie Inglis was next to add to the points, scoring on the back of an attacking play that momentarily outmanoeuvred the Comets defence. A conversion by Roberts Jarrett followed and the score went to 12-0

Addressing their defence in the centre, Coffs were able to stem the flow of points against them and, with 25 minutes left in the half, they struck back with a Max Sheard try. With an unsuccessful conversion attempt, the scoreline stood at 12-4.

The points appeared to give the home side a boost. They began making big metres with each play and, five minutes after their first points, Arthur Wilkinson broke through the Roosters line for a try. The extras from a conversion still eluded them.

The Comets closed in 12-8.

The game settled into a real grind for the rest of the half. Opportunities appeared for both teams, however neither side conceded point and the hal time score was 12-8.

The second half exploded with tries for the visitors, Inglis getting the ball under the posts three minutes from kick-off with Roberts Jarrett adding the extras to rack up an 18-8 scoreline.

Just three minutes later an early kick from the Roosters got Cam Simon in behind the Coffs defensive line for a try, Roberts Jarrett was again on-song with the boot and the Roosters’ lead grew to 24-8.

At this point the Comets’ attacking play went up a notch and a cracking intercept close to the line got Sunia Tamale over for a try and a fight-back for the ages began.

This time Jett McCarthy had success with the boot and the points deficit shrunk to 14-24.

The pace of the home side’s attack ramped up and had the Roosters defence scrambling.

A short break in play due to an injury gave players a breather and a chance to reset.

The Comets maintained their rage with Kellen Wood scoring, McCarthy converting and it became a two-point ballgame at 20-24.

Two minutes later, with the game in the balance, Nambucca’s Robbie Inglis scored another try, Roberts Jarrett had his only miss of the game, and the score was at 20-28.

As the game went into its last 10 minutes a spectacular try by Coffs Harbour’s Wake Petera gave notice to the visitors that it was still very much game on. His converted try took it back to a two-point ball game with the score at 26-28.

Three minutes later his team mate Macauley Dawson scored, not converted and the Comets took the lead 30-28.

With four minutes left in the game and members of  the large crowd on their feet,  Nambucca’s Brodie Simon smashed through the defensive line to take the lead back. His try was converted by Roberts Jarrett and the game was snatched by the visitors with the final score Roosters 34 – Comets 30.

The minor grades provided footy fans at Geoff King Motors Oval with three memorable games.

The U/18 clash went to the home side with the Comets chasing down a huge early lead by the visitors to claw back a win 28-26.

The much-anticipated reserve grade game was also won by Coffs Harbour 30-18.

The Women’s Tackle match-up was won by the Nambucca Roosters in a game where the scoreline was not indicative of play. Despite being outgunned 38-4, the home side were strong in all aspects of the game but were unable to catch the likes of Wulaaran Walker and Xanthi Hand once they broke through the line.

By Mick BIRTLES