Peter (Parra) Montgomery

The Albury Thunder Reserve Grade team had its ‘heart-broken’ in the Grand Final played at Geohex Stadium on Sunday.

The Thunder, looking to complete an undefeated season after going through the previous 17 matches with an unblemished record, was beaten by Wagga Kangaroos 17-12 after an extra 10 minutes of additional time was required after the teams were locked together at 12 all at full time.

For the Kangaroos, it was the Club’s first Reserve Grade title since 1990, while the Thunder was looking for its first premiership since 2012 – and seeking to become the first Club to win a reserve grade title – undefeated.

Both teams had last minute opportunities to win the match ‘out-right’ but failed with field-goal attempts in the dying stages of “normal time”.

Kangaroos captain and half back Tyler Jones hit the post with his shot at ‘glory’ while Jade Duroux was off target with his kick.

Both teams went into the match with a defensive mindset, and it took up to 16 minutes before one team could breach the other’s line

Kangaroos opened the scoring with Roo’s smart pivot Lochie Cole skipped into a gap and sent speedy centre Khaileb Cameron-Pani over for the opening try. Jones added the extras to put his side ahead 6-0.

The Thunder hit back almost immediately when big second rower Ty Tindalevale followed through a well placed kick from Keiran Ford, to pounce on it for a touchdown and Duroux had no trouble adding the extras to bring the scores level at 6-all.

The Thunder was getting good value out of the work of coach Andrew Smith was doing his best at getting the team on the front foot.

He made several telling charges into the defence, but often the position was squandered through bad handling.

The teams looked to be headed to the break at 6 all, before Kangaroos centre Matt Murphy swooped on a dropped ball in the shadows of half-time and galloped away and looked certain to score until he was chased from behind and caught by Brodie Ford.

Ford was ruled to have held down Murphy in the tackle, and sent to sin-bin for a professional foul and penalised, right on half time.  Jones kicked the goal to give his side a 8-6 lead at the break.

With Ford off the paddock, the Roo’s took advantage of one man overlap.  Just two minutes into the second half Wagga’s five-eighth Lochie Cole combined with fullback Tyson Williams to put Cameron-Pani over for his second try of the match.

The conversion attempt was a shocker and the score stayed at 12-6, Kangaroos.

The Thunder hit back with Tei Miti and Bailey Muras combining to conjure up a try.

Waaka and Aidan Young made the running before Miti sent onto Muras who had plenty to do, before busting through three tackles to plunge over for the try.

Duroux again added the extras to level the scores at 12 all. Each side had field goal attempts in the dying moments in an attempt to snach victory in normal time.

One minute into extra time, Kangaroos landed a field goal to grab the lead, before Chantz Carey was on hand to finish off a break to score in the corner – agaIn it was Lochie Cole whoi delivered the pass.

The Thunder had one last chance to snatch victory from jaws of defeat with second rower Tindalevale combining with Crete Waaka break down the sideline but the last pass from Tindalevale was intercepted as the full time siren was sounding

BEST FOR THUNDER – Andrew Smith, Keiran Ford, Aiden Young, Bailey Muras

BEST FOR KANGAROOS – Lochie Cole, Tyler Jones, Khalieb Cameron Pani, Will Hurst

WAGGA KANGAROOS 17 (Khaileb Cameron-Pani, 2, Chantz Carey tries Tyler Jones 2 goals, Will Hurst 1 field goal defeated ALBURY THUNDER 12 (Bailey Muras, Ty Tindalevale tries Jade Duroux 2 goals)