The Wedgetails trailed Bubba Kennedy’s Windradyne, from Bathurst, 6-4 at half-time in the final, but came over the top of their opponents to win 22-12.

But next weekend they will have to step up another level in what should be a hotly contested New South Wales Aboriginal Knockout at Bathurst.

Wedgetails always seemed to have something in reserve in the final and from all reports will be boosted by several other first grade players for next weekend.

Group 11’s player of the year, five-eighth Corey Stanley, and his Cowboys teammate, second-rower Justin Toomey, were inspirational all day in the four games won by the Wedgetails. On their way to the final, they beat Nuggett Hill Memorial 22-20 in a thriller, but then did it much easier 34-0 over Bell River Dragons from Wellington and 48-0 over Brewarrina.

The early stages of the 20x20 minute final saw Windradyne dominate and were capably led by Steve Lane, Bubba Kennedy and Kyle Webb. They scored the first try and were in front 6-0 before the Wedgetails hit back with one of their own, albeit with a bit of a luck.

The Wedgetails were on the attack but the move seemed to have broken down until winger Aidan Ryan picked up a loose ball on the Windradyne quarter then beat a couple of tackles and forced his way over in the corner.

Although they were down by two points at the break, it did seem as though the Wedgetails would be hard to beat if they got an even share of the ball.

They did and it was one of those magical Corey Stanley tries that came from nothing that saw them in front. Craig Roworth kicked the conversion and it was 10-6 to the Wedgetails.

But Steve Lane wasn’t about to concede defeat just yet and it was the captain who scored. Then with Will Wright’s conversion Windradyne were in front 12-10.

However, the final seven minutes were all the Wedgetails and when Robbie Dunn and Nigel Millgate scored tries, and Alistair Beale converted both, the Wellington mob could celebrate victory.

Wedgetails’ captain Shaun Stanley said it was fitting reward for an emotional charged team of very good footballers.

“Today’s effort was from a memorial side put together to honour Paddy Riley, Cameron Daley and Merv Sampson who all played significant roles for the Wedgetails until their deaths,” he said. “As happens in these knockouts with players from all over, it took a while to get some co-ordination going but the more we played together the better we got.

“The carnival here was a good hit out for next weekend at Bathurst.

“We were missing several good players today because of work and other commitments but they’ll be right for Bathurst.”

When you consider the Wedgetails fielded a side that was headed by Corey Stanley, Justin Toomey-White, Chris Daley, Nathan Thompson, Nigel Millgate, Craig Roworth, Ash Conn, Billy and Seaun Stanley, Jeremy Smith, Mick Louie and Alistair Beale the basis is there for a bold showing at Bathurst.

Bubba Kennedy said the Waratahs carnival was a good pipeopener for Bathurst and he felt that Windradyne would be improved by the run.

“I think we did pretty well considering. The competition here at Dubbo was pretty good and to make the final was a good effort,” he said.

“We played fairly well in the early stages (of the final) but didn’t have much of the ball in the second half and couldn’t put much pressure on them.”

In the consolation final, it was an all Dubbo match with the Fuller Merritt Memorial team defeating Nuggett Hill Memorial 20-16.