| News | Gallery | Ladder | Fixtures | Heroes | History | Archive | Contact | Sponsors | Aussie Home |
EDEN DOWN COOMA IN REAL ARM WRESTLE
Eden 20 Cooma 18
The Eden Tigers earned the right to challenge the Bega Roosters for the 2010 Group 16 Premiership title when they defeated the Cooma Stallions 20 points to 18 at the Bega Recreation Ground on Sunday.
With both sides scoring 4 tries it was the goal kicking of Todd Bolton who kicked two from four that proved the difference in windy conditions.
The Tigers opened the match at a frantic pace and shocked the Stallions as they spread the ball early instead of just hitting it up the centre. This had immediate results and in the 3rd minute they crossed with Todd Bolton crossing after good lead up work by Ian McBain and Matt Bell. Bolton converted his own try and the Tigers led 6 nil.
From the kick off the Tigers got the ball back to half way and a shift to the left saw Ian McBain break the line were he found Dain Bamblett in support to score out wide for the Tigers to lead 10 points to nil and the Stallions were shell-shocked.
From the kickoff the Stallions managed to find touch and put the Tigers under pressure with a repeat set. It was big front rower Clay Clear who managed to cross next to the posts and with Nick Moon converting the Tigers lead had been reduced to 10-6.
Both side were making errors and handing the ball to their opposition. The battle of the forwards was starting to hot up as Clear, Donald and Dunn took on Lynch, Michelin and Baker up the centre. Lock forwards Stewart for Cooma and Eden's Hennessey seemed to have a dislike for each other and ripped in. The standout forward on the ground though was Cooma's young 2nd rower Jono Clark. He was in everything and getting through the line as well as providing great cover defence.
In the 17th minute it was Clay Stewart who worked the short side to perfection and with a cut out pass put Nick Moon over in the corner to level the scores at 10 all. Moon missed the difficult conversion attempt. The match continued at a fast pace and some were feeling the heat. Eden were next to grab the lead when they again worked the ball left with Todd Bolton passing the ball to winger Darren Griffin who grabbed the ball from behind and managed to ground it in the corner. Then Cooma hit back when from midfield they got the ball to Dan Stokes who charged onto a Tye Fallins pass to level the scores at 14 all.
Neither side could capitalize on line breaks and in fact their were few as both sides became tired and play was very conservative.
The half time siren went and the sides were level at 14 all.
The 2nd half began in even fashion with both sides not willing to shift the ball wide and just hitting it up through their forwards. Veterans Baker (Eden) and Stewart (Cooma) seemed intent on taking each other on and their clash was interesting. Cooma's Fallins was struggling with a hamstring injury and appeared unable to take the line on. Cooma's forwards Clarke, Dunn ,Clear and replacement Jones looked like they were getting on top of the Eden Pack but just as you would expect the Tigers lifted. They were now camped in the Cooma half and the stallions were starting to struggle in the arm wrestle. Billy Michelin was making the odd big run and Lynch would follow his lead. Against the run of play Cooma centre Matt Salvestro grabbed an intercept when Eden had a two man overlap and showed a clean pair of heels to the Tigers as he sprinted 85 metres to score. It was only a good chase by a few Eden players that forced him to score out wide. This play would prove to benefit the Tigers later. Nick Moon could not convert in the difficult windy conditions but the Stallions led 18-14.
Cooma could not break the Tigers defence and both sides were simply getting through their tackles and then Fallins for Cooma or McBain for Eden would look to kick. Both kicked the ball dead on several occasions and could not keep the pressure on their opposition. The arm wrestle was on as both sides ripped in and tried to force a mistake from the other. It took the Tigers unto the 71st minute to force and error and it was a poor last tackle option on their own 40 metre line when instead of kicking Cooma elected to run the ball only to turn it over and give the Tigers good field position. On the 2nd tackle Eden chanced their arm again down the left side and Bell found McBain in support who in turn found the reliable Ian Smith to crack the Cooma defence and score 10 metres in to level the scores at 18all. With 8 minutes to play Bolton lined up the conversion and despite the windy conditions managed to put the Tigers in front 20 points to 18.
The experience of Hennesey, Chatfield and Bolton stepped in as the Tigers concentrated on just running from dummy half and ensuring they made yards and no errors. Every time Cooma got the ball in the last 8 minutes it was well inside their half and gave them no chance to score without really chancing their arm and anytime they did the Tigers defence held up well. With a minute to play Cooma took the ball up the right side were front rower Dunn sent a pass to winger Moon only for it to be called forward. A correct call but one that upset the Cooma officials. As the siren sounded it was Eden who had held on and will now take on Bega in the 2010 decider.
For Cooma Fallins tried hard but it was obvious that he played injured. Clear, Dunn and Stewart were good but it was Jono Clark who really impresses as someone that the Cooma Club can build their future around. His work rate and willingness to take the ball up to Eden was exceptional. The Stallions other replacement Cameron Jones was also brilliant and is a player with good footwork at the line. For the winners Captain Coach Leigh Hennessey provided the inspiration while front rowers Michelin and Lynch lifted in the 2nd half for some great yardage. Replacement Tom Bell who was lucky to stay on the field after one incident made some great runs with the ball and has some pace. Ian McBain was good and bad. When he took the line on at pace he caused all sorts of problems but his involvement needs to be higher. Ian Smith of the bench was good but it was their overall experience from Bolton and Baker that got the tigers into the 2010 decider.
Details
Eden 20.
Tries Todd Bolton, Dain Bamblett, Darren Griffin, Ian Smith
Goals Todd Bolton 2.
Cooma 18.
Tries Clay Clear,Nick Moon, Dan Stokes, Matt Salvestro
Goals Nick Moon
Penalties Cooma 5 Eden 1
Scrums 5 all.