The Dubbo Kangaroos earned a chance to exact revenge on Orange City after easing past the Mudgee Wombats in Sunday’s Blowes Clothing Cup colts minor semi-final.
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The Roos, after finishing third on the ladder, were humbled 43-7 by a rampant City in last week’s qualifying semi-final but responded in style in Sunday’s do-or-die clash.
And after City was downed by Bathurst Bulldogs in Saturday’s major semi, the Roos will take on the young Lions for a grand final spot at Forbes next weekend.
“It was a big disappoint last week but the boys turned it around today,” Roos co-coach Mick Hollow said after Sunday’s five-try-to-two win.
“The boys worked hard at training this week and I think they’re finally getting their heads in the game now.
“The conditions today were a bit iffy and they had to work a lot.”
Despite scoring with their very first play inside two minutes on Sunday, the Roos began slowly at a gusty No. 1 Oval.
Flying fullback Danny Ryan, one of a number of Roos players who enjoyed a first grade debut this season, scored after early Mudgee errors but the Wombats hit back almost immediately through influential No. 8 Alex Saint to lock it up at 5-all.
Errors and penalties were littered through the opening 15 minutes but the Roos slowly began to find their groove, with scrumhalf Pat Berryman becoming more involved, and after some sustained pressure winger Remus Watson crossed.
Despite Mudgee having a glut of possession late in the first half the Roos defence held firm and it remained 12-5 until the break.
The hosts began the second stanza the better of the two sides and Ryan passed through a gap with the utmost ease to gran his second, but again Mudgee didn’t go away.
The Wombats hit back when a rampaging George Fletcher powered his way across the line but from there the visitors had few chances.
The Roos remained composed despite a yellow card to flyhalf Aiden Giffin after a high shot and after some hustling defence and then more sustained pressure created by the forward pack, Jesse Griffiths crashed over from close range with 20 minutes to go.
At 26-10 the Roos were well placed and Watson’s second with 10 minutes remaining made sure of the result.
Berryman, who’s kicking was superb considering the wind, nailed the sideline conversion old-school style with a teammate holding the ball rather than it being placed on the tee.
That kick made it 33-10 and that was what it remained.
“The positive was we really looked like we were playing like a team at finals time,” Hollow said.
“Next week we’ve got a repeat of last week so hopefully we can turn it around.
“This will boost our confidence a lot.”
As well as Berryman and Ryan, centre pairing Ben Knaggs and Tim Cushan impressed for the Roos while captain Michael Bartimote and Hamish Smith also got through plenty of work.