Dubbo Kangaroos edged out Narromine in an out-and-out war of attrition in the Blowes Clothing Cup colts preliminary final at Endeavour Oval, sneaking home 12-8 to book their tickets to next weekend's decider against Bathurst Bulldogs.
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The two rivals went hell-for-leather at each in a bid to win through to the big dance at Bathurst's Anne Ashwood Park, in the end a Charlie Kempston try 10 minutes from full-time proved the deciding factor for Dubbo, along with one final defensive surge too.
Dubbo were trailing 8-5 at that point and the Gorillas were looming large again but a spilled pass bounced perfectly for speedster Logan Porch, who needed no invitation to race into open space before linking with the supporting Kempston.
To pull that win out and get a grand final spot is just unbelievable.
- Dubbo coach Greg Knaggs
He touched down and added the extras to give his side a four-point lead, which they defended ferociously as Narromine mounted one final attacking raid in the dying stages but came up just short.
The four-point victory also gives Roos a shot at redemption.
They were beaten by the undefeated, minor premiership-winning Bulldogs in the major semi-final a week earlier, sacrificing a late lead and eventually being beaten in extra-time.
"We are so relieved," Dubbo Roos coach Greg Knaggs admitted.
"We've basically been even-par with Narromine all season, there's not been much between the two sides all year and that showed [on Saturday] I think.
"We took a lot of heart of last week because of the way we played but it did take its toll because it can take a lot to get back up again after a loss like that, but to pull that win out and get a grand final spot is just unbelievable.
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"We'll just have to step up again now, and we should. We had a few guys away from training leading into this game but they'll hopefully be on deck this week, we'll have plenty of reserves and there'll be nothing to lose."
Knaggs went on to give the gallant Gorillas more praise for their determined effort, deservedly so considering they had the bare minimum 15 players on deck and went within inches of a backs-to-the-wall victory.
Narromine co-coach Rod Kreuger labelled his troops' effort gutsy as well and said finishing third is something the Gorillas should be proud of in their first season back in the colts competition.
"It was a great year, a really good effort. We had a few guys out hurt [on Saturday] and only had the bare minimum. It was always going to be tough being 15 on 25 or so, but they stuck at it,"
"They're a good bunch of kids, they're committed and they look after each other really well, they pulled together and almost pulled something special out there, but well done to Dubbo, they played good rugby and got there in the end."
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Considering the side is largely made up of younger players fresh from the Gorillas' under-17 premiership last season, Krueger went on to say their 2019 third finish is a strong foundation to build from next year and beyond.
"They are all young and most of them should be around next year, so with that and them doing well enough to finish third, it's really encouraging. Hopefully next year we'll be back bigger and better," he said.
After 20 scoreless minutes Alex Heap opened the scoring for Narromine with a penalty goal, but Roos answered back not long after through Kain Simpson.
On the stroke of half-time Jacob Taylor barged his way over for the Gorillas and although Heap's shot at goal was waved away they still held an 8-5 lead.
He missed a chance for three more points just six minutes into the new half but his side did look likely to add to their tally heading into the dying stages, before Porch and Kempston swooped.
The Gorillas stayed composed and mounted their last-ditch attacking raid and it looked like it might pay dividend as Taylor found a sliver of space out wide, but he was bundled into touch.
The Roos will now feature in the grand final for the second successive season.
Last year they smacked Orange City in the major-semi, only to be beaten by the young Lions in the one that mattered.
- DUBBO KANGAROOS 12 (Kain Simpson, Charlie Kempston tries; Kempston conversion) def NARROMINE GORILLAS 8 (Jacob Taylor try; Alex Heap penalty goal)