A string of errors would prove costly for Western Rams, as it came up short in its Laurie Daley Cup semi-final against Greater Northern Tigers at Kandos on Sunday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Played at Waratah Park, Tigers raced out to an early 12-0 lead and while Rams pulled it back to two points at one stage, Greater Northen would hold on to win 16-10.
Western was under the pump within the first seven minutes when Tigers prop Mark Simon crashed over to open the scoring.
Mitch Henderson scored the extras to put the visitors up 6-0 and on the 15th minute mark, things got worse for the hosts when interchange front rower Jake Clydesdale scored. With the conversion kicked, Tigers were up 12-0 and in control, taking the lead to the half-time break.
Within the first five minutes of the second-half, Rams found themselves in good field positions, however, handling errors ruined their hard in defence.
But eight minutes into the second half, Western finally found its breakthrough try when Fletcher Haycock kicked into the in-goal, the Tigers were unable to deal the loose ball and interchange prop Tobias Miller latched onto it to score the try.
READ MORE:
Braye Porter scored the conversion to put the Rams within a converted try of levelling the score.
But in chasing the Tigers lead, Western was their own worst enemy, with errors in the play-the-ball handing the visitors easy turnovers and on the 53rd minute mark, they were punished.
Tigers centre Blake Johnston channelled his inner Lionel Messi to kicked the ball off the ground through the Rams defence and plant his hand down on the loose ball to score. Henderson missed the conversion to have Greater Northern up 16-6.
But on the hour mark, Rams gave themselves some hope when winger Darcy Leadbitter scored out wide and while Porter missed the conversion, Western were within six points of the visitors.
Within under three minutes to go, tensions boiled over after a brief altercation between Tigers' Simon and Rams' Mana Dermott were sent to the sin bin for the rest of the match.
A break in the final minute from Finnley Neilsen got Rams within 30 metres of the Tigers line, but a mistake in the play-the-ball from Mitchell Cleary gave possession back to Greaten Northern. They saw out the remaining seconds to book themselves a spot in the grand final of the Laurie Daley Cup.
Greatern Northern Tigers will meet the Central Coast Roosters in the grand final next weekend, with the latter having already defeated the former in the regular season.
GREATERN NORTHERN TIGERS 16 (Mark Simon, Jake Cyldesdale, Blake Johnston tries; Mitch Henderson 2 goals) defeated WESTERN RAMS 10 (Tobias Miller, Darcy Leadbitter tries; Brayer Porter goal)
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
