By Peter (Parra) Montgomery

Wagga Kangaroos played a ‘smart’ game to eliminate a brave Albury Thunder team from the Group 9 final series, coming from a 12-0 deficit to win the first semi-final to win 22-18 at McDonalds Park Wagga Wagga on Saturday.

Last season’s Grand Finalists win was spearheaded by veteran half back James Smart who played a huge part in all four tries scored by his team, and, in-between dominating the scoring side of play, tormented the Thunder with his accurate kicking in general play.

The match could not have started better for the Thunder side that stamped its authority on the match in the opening twenty minutes.

During this period, five eighth Paul Kariatiana produced several good attacking kicks in general play, before capitalising on a long break by lock Jeremy Wiscombe to score a brilliant individual try, producing a strong fend to race over for the opening try. Jade Duroux converted from near the posts to give the Thunder a 6-0 lead after just five minutes.

The Kangaroos went close to scoring with centre Ned Cooper over the line, but unable to ground the ball under a swarm of Thunder defenders.

From the restart, the Roos went close to levelling, but heavy defence by Jackins Olam and Nathan Darby shook the ball loose.

Kariatiana again turned defence into attack, with a clever kick in general play, and it was followed up with a long break by the ever present Jeremy Wiscombe, who strode into the clear and found Lachy Munro in support.

Quick hands at the next ruck, and Munro presented Isaac Carpenter with the ball close to the line, and the Group’s leading try scorer didn’t bother with directions as he crashed over next to the sticks for season’s No 19 and a 12-0 lead with the conversion by Duroux.

In the opening twenty minutes, the Thunder forwards led by Clayton Coulay and props Zain Mitchell-Dowding had the better of play, but when the Kangaroos started to move the ball around, and getting second phase play in action, Smart, at half back, controlled the action.

He produced a neat grubber kick behind the Thunder defence, and Ned Cooper followed through to get his side onto the scoreboard

The season’s leading point scorer, Charlie Barton, had no problem adding the extras and Kangaroos trailed 12-6.

Just four minutes later Jacob Mancini was over under the posts and Barton again added the extras to lock the scores up at 12 all in the thirty-first minute

Big centre Dakota Ruta for the Kangaroos was starting to stamp his influence on the game with several bullocking runs that had the Albury defence in disarray.

He was over, but the final pass was ruled forward and the try disallowed.

His powerful running caused the Thunder defence plenty of anxious moments as he seemed to take delight in running over his opponents.

Ruta paved the way for the try scored by Smart that catapauled Kangaroos into a halftime lead of 18-12.

He broke the line defence and off loaded to Smart who raced around to plant the ball down under the posts.

The Thunder needed the half time break as the team was on the back foot in the second part of the opening session.

The big Kangaroo forwards led by veteran James Hay were creating opportunities, with Bowie Foster and hooker Zachary Graham taking advatage of his ability to move the ball.

Ruta scored early in the half after Smart had trailed a Zeik Foster break, and put the big centre over out wide. 

Barton’s conversion attempt was off the mark, but Kangaroos were ahead 22-12.

Kangaroos lost Oliver Hoskin after he had been heavily tackled and forced to leave for HIA, and he never returned to the game.

Thunder started playing ‘catch up football’ with fifteen minutes left to play, and movement of the ball had Kangaroos under the pump.

Hooker Robert Meeks who had been elusive all game, put the Thunder back in the game with a ‘quick thinking’ individual try with twelve minutes to go.

He put a grubber kick through behind the on-the-line defence and then ‘beat’ the defence to the ball for a clever try. 

Again Duroux was on target with the conversion, Thunder trailed 22-18 in the 70th minute.

In an effort to level the scores, the Thunder threw everything it had into the attack. 

Replacement players Joseph Hill, Joel Vincent-Marriott, Joshua Sharp and Bailey Muras made a difference when they came on substituting tiring players.

Hill, in particular, had a strong game after playing so well in the Under 18 sem-final match earlier in the day, and he looks to be a great prospect.

Thunder lost strike weapon Carpenter in the seventy third minute when he was kayoed after a strong charge at the line.

The Thunder had a chance to equalise when a raid deep into Kangaroos fell apart, when a pass to an unmarked Jade Duroux sailed over the sideline.

Wiscombe, Kariatiana, Munro and Coulay were heavily involved in the last gasp efforts but were kept at bay by desperate defence.

Thunder can be proud of its efforts, but were beaten by a better team on the day.

Meanwhile, Temora defeated Gundagai in a tense Qualifying Final by 24 points to 20 at Nixon Park.

The Dragons will now take on Young for a spot in the Grand Final, while the Tigers will host a sudden-death Minor Semi Final against the victorious Kangaroos.

BEST – Kangaroos – James Smart, Dakota Ruta, Zeik Foster, James Hay.

BEST – Thunder – Paul Karitiana, Zain Mitchell-Dowding, Lachlan Munro, Jeremy Wiscombe, Clayton Couley.

WAGGA KANGAROOS 22 (Ned Cooper, Jacob Mancini, James Smart, Dakota Ruta tries, Charlie Barton 3 goals) defeated ALBURY THUNDER 18 (Paul Kariatiana, Isaac Carpenter, Robbie Meeks tries Jade Duroux 3 goals) at McDonalds Park Wagga Wagga.