By Tallon Smith

The Darlington Point-Coleambally Roosters have assumed outright leadership of the Group 20 Rugby League competition after a nail biting 26-24 win over the Yenda Blueheelers at the Darlington Point Sportsground.

Going into the top of the table clash, both teams were tied on 14 competition points for leadership of the competition.

The Roosters burst out of the blocks the better of the two sides, with Adam McCann crossing in the 5th minute, followed by barnstorming lock Jon Huggett in the 24th, to open up a 10-0 lead.

Yenda hit back in the 34th minute through five-eighth Isaiah Buerckner-Little, who stepped and weaved his way through the DPC defensive line to score a great try at the northern end.

After DPC led 10-4 at the break, Yenda resumed from where they left off, with Tikiko Noke and Henry Taylor crossing in the 48th and 50th minutes respectively to give the boys in royal blue the lead at 14-10. 

The Roosters countered that with two quick tries to Tom Fattore and Guy Thompson, followed by a penalty goal, to open up a 24-14 lead with ten to play.

The match was to have another twist however, with Yenda regathering the ball from the short kickoff to score through Trey Woodland and close the gap to 24-20.

Then, four minutes later, a late offload saw a quick backline shift to the right hand side, ending in a try to Tom Sellars that levelled the game at 24-all.

Under enormous pressure from the parochial home crowd, Isaiah Buerckner-Little’s kick from the sideline was waved away, leaving the scores level with four to play.

Finally, in the 77th minute, DPC received a penalty in front of the posts, leading to the obvious choice of a shot at penalty goal, which Josh Veivers kicked to close out a heartstopping 26-24 victory.

DPC Captain-Coach Guy Thompson said that the match was an intense contest, with both teams battling for ascendency throughout the afternoon.

“It was a dead set war out there, I thought,” he said.

“They bashed us for 20, we bashed them for 20, they bashed us for 20, just went back and forth. 

“I’ve been saying that the side that holds the ball the most completes our sets and kicks to the corners without giving the penalties, wins the game.

“I think both of us were far from perfect today, we dropped a lot of ball, they dropped a lot of ball, and as you [saw], it was just a back and forth wrestle there.”

Speaking on his side’s patchy performance, and the surprise loss to Tullibigeal-Lakes United a few weeks earlier, Thompson said the most important thing is getting a fit and healthy team to both training and matches.

“I think the main thing is getting the boys to training,” he said.

“We haven’t played, we’ve been four players short of full strength all year, it’s like today, we’re four players, good players short of a full squad every week. 

[Today was] Benny’s first game back. 

“I think if we didn’t have Benny out there today, we don’t win that game.”

He just calms the nerves, he’s a great player. 

As for the support on the day, Thompson said that the turnout for the clash was befitting of the occasion.

“We’re most probably the two smallest passionate clubs in the comp,” he said.

“Two clubs that most probably shouldn’t even be in it, considering the population and we just got those people in the club, it just won’t let the club die. 

“Not only that, the supporters, as you’ve seen, we’ve been waiting to come back here, we haven’t played here [Darlington Point] all year.

“The atmosphere here, the crowd feels like they’re running out there with you, so it’s good.

“The Yenda crowd let you have it too, so it’s good, but it’s all fun. 

“So much respect between the two clubs, it’s tough footy, but it’s always good.”

Yenda Assistant Coach Jordon Burley said that despite the result, the Blueheelers can take a lot from their never say die attitude they displayed in the “finals like” contest.

“Honestly it was finals like,” he said.

“After having a few quiet years, I know we came home strong last year, but it’s good to get a taste of those tough games now, I think it will hold us in good stead later on.

“It was very physical, it was quick, it was everything a finals game is like, so it was good.”

In other First Grade matches, another 26-24 thriller saw Tullibigeal Lakes United escape with the two points at home against Hay.

The Magpies, who have been in every game this year, may be among one of the better teams in history to be winless after the halfway point of the competition.

Meanwhile, injury ravaged West Wyalong were put to the sword 50-4 by the Griffith Waratah Tigers at the Exies Oval.

One must feel for the Mallee Men, many of whose first choice players are sidelined at the moment.

Finally, in the Reserve Grade only encounter, the Yanco-Wamoon Hawks narrowly went down to a committed Griffith Black and Whites outfit 32-22 at Yanco Sportsground.

The Hawks have greatly improved in recent weeks, but were unable to overcome one of the better sides in the second grade competition.

Other Reserve Grade games saw Tullibigeal-Lakes score a 32-4 win over Hay, Waratahs narrowly defeat West Wyalong 18-16, and Yenda complete a 20-0 shutout of DPC.