Tallon Smith
After letting a 16-point lead slip, a late gamble paid off for the Cootamundra Bulldogs in their 34-30 victory over the Southcity Bulls at Les Boyd Oval on Sunday.
Leading 28-12 with five minutes to go, the Bulldogs conceded three quick tries after Joseva Tuinivanua was sent to the sin bin, which saw the Bulls holding a two point lead and possession with two minutes to play.
However, Cootamundra would get one more chance when Nikola Sovatabua stripped the ball in the final minute, and when the side was awarded a penalty in front of the posts, a penalty goal and a draw seemed the likely option.
Instead, coach Luke Berkrey decided to tap the ball and play on, a risk that was ultimately rewarded when Sovatabua crashed over out wide to steal victory from the jaws of defeat and elevate Cootamundra to outright second on the competition ladder.
Reflecting on the madness of the final minute, Berkrey said the prospect of securing an unlikely win was more appealing than the certainty of a draw.
“It was a big risk, but like I said to the boys after the game, we are playing to win, we aren’t playing to have draws, and I just felt confident in the boys that we had a try in us and just backed them,” he said.
“Obviously it was awesome to come away with the win, I had so many of the old boys of the club coming up to me telling me I was off my head, but it was really pleasing.”
Despite the celebrations of the memorable win however, Berkrey was still displeased with the fact the side found itself in that situation after having a comfortable lead.
“It was disappointing in a way that we were in full control of the match and led by 16, and in the blink of an eye we were down by two,” he said.
“It shows probably a credit to Southcity, of how good they were to stick in there and come back at us like that.”
As for the man who secured the football and crossed for the matchwinner as part of a try double, Berkrey said Sovatabua’s performance was his best so far this season.
“Niks was awesome, he was unbelievable, had his biggest game by far, and we were super proud of the performance he had,” he said.
“He came up with that one-on-one steal on the first tackle on Southcity with 50 seconds to go, that was a huge play, and then he goes over to score the winning try as well, so it was an amazing moment for him.”
Cootamundra is at home again this weekend against Wagga Brothers, while Southcity will return to its newly-reopened facilities at Harris Park for a Challenge Cup clash with Tumut.
The Blues will have a points start of +7.5 for the match.
