By Tallon Smith

The Griffith Black and Whites have moved back up to fourth spot on the Group 20 ladder after a heartstopping 30-28 win over the Griffith Waratah Tigers at EW Moore Oval on Sunday afternoon.

It’s the match that stops Griffith’s rugby league community and for the second time this year the derby looked set to end in a draw, but a late penalty to Panthers fullback Solomona Toru saw the Black and Whites secure the narrowest of victories and bragging rights until either next season or a potential finals matchup.

Both sides traded tries early on, with Api Loaloadravu and Eseroma Nawaqa (twice) crossing the line for the Black and Whites, while Willie Lolohea and Ulu Akolo nabbed four pointers for the ‘Tahs.

The Black and Whites looked set to take a two score lead into the break when Naashon Mataora added their fourth try of the afternoon, but that was cut to four as Saul Railo went over, leaving the half time score at 20-16 in favour of the Black and Whites.

The Tigers shot out of the blocks in the second half and despite an early opportunity going begging, they made up for it only a few minutes later through hooker Sina Tatofi who levelled the game.

The Panthers re-grouped however, with Paula Naidike the next to score in the see-sawing match, before Waratah Saul Railo was sin-binned and the Black and Whites took full toll again via Mason Payne who put them in front by a converted try with a quarter of the game remaining.

The Tigers re-grouped however and it was Tupou Tupou Uhi who scored the crucial try to level the game at 28-all.

The game looked set to end in a deadlock, much like their first encounter in Round 8 at the Exies Oval did, however a late penalty to the Black and Whites saw their fullback Toru step up and nail the shot at goal to give his side a crucial victory in the finals race.

Meanwhile, the previous holders of fourth position on the table, Leeton, fell 12-6 to Yenda in a tight affair at Wade Park.

Broden Piva opened the scoring for the Blueheelers, who were favourites to win the match, however Billy Dickinson had other ideas, continuing his strong form with a crucial first half four pointer which put Leeton ahead 6-4 at the halfway mark.

A lone second half try to prop Elvis Nauer-Wood saw the Blues regain the lead, which they would not relinquish from that point onwards as they recorded their eleventh win of the season.

The loss relegates Leeton to fifth after the Black and Whites’ victory, an ordering that could be crucial when it comes time to allocate home finals.

Darlington Point-Coleambally were also among the Round 17 victors after an emphatic 56-14 defeat of the Hay Magpies at Hay Park Oval.

Jack Lyons led the charge for the Roosters with a hat-trick of tries, while Josh Veivers crossed the stripe and booted eight goals for the joint competition leaders.

Yenda and DPC’s respective victories sees the race for the Minor Premiership come down to the final round, with Yenda scheduled to face the Waratahs away at Exies Oval, while the Roosters are set to tackle the Black and Whites at the Darlington Point Sportsground.

Finally, in the Reserve Grade only fixture of the weekend, the Tullibigeal-Lakes United Sharks scored a 42-6 win over the Yanco-Wamoon Hawks at the Lake Cargelligo Recreation Oval.

Next week sees the two aforementioned Waratahs-Yenda and DPC-Black and Whites games, with the other fixtures being Leeton hosting West Wyalong and a Reserve Grade clash between Yanco-Wamoon and Hay.