SOUTH COAST Group Seven centenary rugby league first grade outsiders Jamberoo Superoos proved too good for the Milton-Ulladulla ExServos Bulldogs last Saturday at Mollymook Oval running out convincing winners 20-18 in front of a small crowd.
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The gutsy win by Jamberoo, sees the Bulldogs mercifully exit the competition while the Roos go up against Gerringong this Sunday at Kiama showground.
The winner will go up against Warilla who secured a grand final spot at Nowra showground on Sunday week.
Against the listless Dogs, the Roos got off to a terrific start when centre Tim Small took an easy intercept from 30 metres out and careered down the western sideline untouched before crack fullback Jarrod Schodde added the extra after only two minutes of play.
In the ensuing play the Dogs were denied a try from centre Adam Bliss before the Roos hit back when attacking Roos half-back Jonathon Dallas sprinted in behind the Dogs defensive-line after feeding the opposition inside-backs a brilliant feint to sprint 35 metres to score.
Schodde converted for the visitors to move further ahead 12-0 after 17 minutes.
Finally, the Dogs found their mojo when pivot Luke Young made a determined break that resulted in rookie of the year Kirren Roughley zooming over out wide.
Young potted the goal to trail 12-6.
While the Dogs refused to take advantage of two awarded penalties and four points within kicking range, the Roos, on the other hand, quickly added a Schoddle penalty goal at the 33rd minute to skip further ahead 14-6.
Although the Roos out-enthused the Dogs throughout most of the match, to their credit the locals roared back into contention at the 36th chime when a smart angular crossfield kick by five-eighth Young saw utility Lachlan Moore leap into the air to regather the ball and in the same aerial movement pass to winger Travis Young who darted over.
Luke Young added the conversion at 14-12 and just when it looked like the locals were about to take command, the Roos were in again when Schoddle converted his own try to give the visitors a 20-12 at the break and virtually the game.
The second-half was a better spectacle as both sides yielded as little territory as possible and it looked obvious the Dogs would overwhelm the visitors after Lachlan Moore flicked the switch and took advantage to score wide out with rake Adam Stone and back-rower Carl Warburton involved.
Young converted to trail within two points (20-18) from the lead before Bulldog centre AJ Hatch was unluckily held-up over the line three minutes from the end.
It’s been a ripping year for the Dogs, their first grade chargers came from second-last last season to third-place this year as well as being undefeated for 12 rounds before lady luck deserted them and crippling injuries took over.
Squad members included Tom Cook, Graham McInness, Kirren Roughley, Chris Jaffrey, Blake Mackie, Adam Bliss, AJ Hatch, Luke Young, Sam Stewart, Rowan Brown, Adam Stone, Carl Warburton, Shaun Wessel, Adam Tracey, Gary Warburton (C), Lachlan Moore, Hayden Naylor, Mitch Gaal, Jesse Bradford, Ross Warburton (coach) and manager Todd Barkley.
The Milton-Ulladulla ExServos reserve grade team showed plenty of heart before being bungled out of the semis by Jamberoo Superoos 28-22 last Saturday, contributing to their own demise as the visitors went to a quick 4-0 lead before Bulldog fullback Will Ray scooped-up a dropped ball and crossed over.
Jesse Piekar converted for a 6-4 lead.
The Dogs, with a try-anything spirit, went further ahead when centre Nathan Hampton-Olive probed deep into Jamberoo’s quarter to dispatch “The Bulldozer” Scott Webb for the try-line for a healthy 10-4 lead before another lapse in defence saw the visitors level 10-all at the break with a converted try.
With both sides hampered by an over-zealous amount of penalties, the Roos took full advantage of playing against 11 opponents and crossed for three converted tries to extend their lead at 28-10 before the locals rejoined the contest to mount a mighty rear-guard action.
With half-back Mick Salafia trying to lift the Dogs with his converted try by Clinton Millard at 28-16, the locals were looking the part as Chris Jaffrey, Daniel Beauchamp and Brett Cox went forward.
This resulted in Millard smartly diving over for Ray Smith to convert and, with two minutes remaining, it seemed the Dogs could get themselves out of trouble, however with poor ball control, Jamberoo, although running on fumes, managed to hold the menacing Dogs at bay.
The Dogs reserve grade squad had an incredible season and with the likes of Will Ray, Ray Smith, Nathan Hampton-Olive, Jimmy Little, Ben Smeeth, Jesse Piekar, Mick Salafia, Ben Evans, Clinton Millard, Jack Matthews, Tommy Ray, Brett Cox, Matt Cook, Shannon Williams, Nathan Ridley, Jayde Tooth, Chris Jaffrey, Daniel Beauchamp, Scott Webb, Wade Walker, co-coaches Clinton Millard and Owen Dredge with manager Bill Whitby, a good platform has now been created for next season.
This Sunday on the flint-hard Kiama showground, Gerringong Lions face Jamberoo Superoos in the sudden-death final while Warilla Gorillas meet Jamberoo in the reserve grade clash, Warilla tackles Kiama Knights in the under-18s and Kiama plays Albion Park Eagles in the WLT fixture that starts at 10am.