Dubbo Macquarie’s Group 11 preliminary final win over Westside on Sunday was made even sweeter by the fact it was the Rabbitohs who defeated them in last season’s grand final.
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The Raiders scored a small piece of revenge at Parkes’ Pioneer Oval when winning 24-10 and setting up a reserve grade grand final date with Dubbo CYMS.
“They (Westside) knocked us out in the GF last year and that was pretty disappointing and they did the same to us a couple weeks ago and made it a hard run to the GF but the boys stuck to the plan and finally held the ball,” Macquarie captain-coach Adam McDermott said after the win.
“It was a good effort today, especially in the second half when we held them off and had a few injured.”
The loss ended Westside’s dream of back-to-back premierships, with errors and penalties cruelling the side’s chances at crucial times after they trailed 16-4 at half time.
Captain Peter Boon, influential again, confessed the Raiders were just that little bit better.
“It is disappointing to be premiers last year and then go so close to the final but they (Macquarie) were the second best team in the comp and they’re going to be playing the best team in the comp (CYMS) so today was always going to be a tight tussle,” he said.
The Raiders flew out of the blocks and scored two quick tries through centres Brad Spencer and Layne Searle.
The men in blue continued to dominate proceedings and it wasn’t long before the lead was extended.
The Rabbitohs gave away three successive penalties and Spencer capitalised and sliced through for his second.
But Westside finally started working themselves into the game and some sustained attack was rewarded when fullback Charlie Wilson showed real strength to power his way through the defence and dive over.
It stayed 16-4 until the break and the second half began as a real arm wrestle, with a number of bruising tackles dished out from both sides.
The Rabbitohs scored in the 43rd minute when a crossfield kick from Boon ended up in the hands of Kieran Hill, who dived over.
But a penalty goal from Craig McLean with 10 minutes to go took the lead beyond a converted try and after absorbing late pressure the Raiders scored right on the bell through a flying Dennis Peckham-Allen.
Injuries are a concern for Macquarie with Jayden Harvey’s ribs a worry while five-eighth Trey Doolan was limping late on.
“I am (pleased) but there’s still plenty to work on next week,” McDermott said, before speaking about the grand final against the Raiders’ local rivals.
“Obviously CYMS and Macquarie have got a long history so it would be sweet to get one over them.”
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
