Eden Tigers RLFC News Article

COOMA TAKE RESERVE GRADE TITLE

September 5th 2009

The Cooma Stallions held on to claim the reserve grade title after the Merimbula/Pambula Buuldogs got to the front with 10 minutes to play before the Stallions scored to run out winners by 20 points to 18.
The Stallions led for most of the day after Matt Bond scored early. The game was a real arm wrestle with the much bigger and more experienced Stallions being made to work for every yard against a committed and determined Bulldog defence.
When they had the ball the Bulldogs spread the ball and troubled the Cooma forwards with their mobility but a couple of mistakes cost them dearly late in the match.
A Cooma penalty allowed Rod Palmer to give the Stallions a 6 nil lead before the Bulldogs relied through Brett Johnson to cross out wide after they shifted the ball. But as some as the Bulldogs scored the Stallions hit back with a try to replacement Brett Dorwood and with Rod Palmers conversion they led 12 points to 4.
Again it was the Bulldogs Fullback Brett Johnson who scored from another backline movement and with twin brother Matt's conversion the Bulldogs were down 12-10.
Cooma's replacement forward Carol Manga scored 4 minutes before the break to give the Stallions a 16-10 lead and then right on half-time the Bulldogs looked like they would level the score's when Lock Forward Andrew Mather strolled onto a beautiful Aidan Aitken pass and went through a gap bigger than the Sydney Heads to cross under the posts only to be called back for a forward pass. The half-time siren went and the Bulldogs were feeling robbed.
The 2nd half was all the Bulldogs with tries to Liam Fuller and Clay Morrisey to hit the front 18-16 but they could not convert a try.
Cooma then got some field position and centre John Kaufline managed to charge over to regain the lead for the Stallions. With the conversion attempt waved away the Bulldogs were still a chance but to their credit the Stallions scrabbled well to keep the Bulldogs at bay. With just two minutes remaining the Bulldogs moved the ball to the left but a knock-on with a 3 man overlap cost them dearly.
The final siren sounded and the Cooma Stallions had deservedly hung on for a great win.
Scorers
Cooma
Tries Matt Bond, Brett Dorwood, John Kaufline & Carol Manga Goals Rod Palmer 2.
Merimbula/Pambula
Tries Brett Johnson 2, Liam Fuller, Clay Morrisey Goals Matt Johnson 1.
Best Players for the Stallions were Greg Cowell, Luke Johanson and veteran Jason O'Bryan while for the Bulldogs Andrew Mather was a standout, The Johnson twins Brett & Matt were sensational and 17year old half-back Aidan Aitken proved that he will be a player to watch in 2010 for the Bulldogs.