A late try from Wellington captain-coach Justin Toomey-White has led the Cowboys to a gritty 26-22 victory over Macquarie on Sunday at Apex Oval.
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Both sides came into the match coming off a loss last round and were eager to return to the winner's circle.
Toomey-White knows the game was at semi-final intensity and admitted it was a good sign for his side before the finals begin.
"We knew it was going to be tough today," he said.
"Macquarie were coming off a tough loss last week so we knew they were come out firing which they did.
"It was a tough encounter, semi-finals are around the corner but that felt like a semi-final today."
After a loss to Nyngan last week, Toomey-White felt it was a good comeback from his side.
"It was a good reaction from the boys," he said.
"We knew we had to start strong and fight for the full 80 minutes.
"It was a grind of a game but it is good to come away with the two points."
Macquarie's Peter Gibbs knows his side were not far away from making a real statement in the competition.
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"Obviously we are disappointed with the loss but it was an outstanding game of footy," he said.
"I think we saw two of the best teams in the competition.
"If we play to our potential and Wellington play to theirs, that's the sort of game we are going to see.
"We love it when it goes down to the wire, nobody enjoys footy when it is lopsided but everyone enjoys it when it is down to the wire.
"These clubs deserve these sort of games from two of the best teams in the comp."
Gibbs had nothing but praise for not only his side but their opposition as well.
"Wellington is a great side because they have great spirit in their club and a great leader,"
"We have to move up to that but we are a team who has not played much.
"We are 99 per cent of new players and we are building.
"Every week we are building."
It was Wellington who got on the board first after just five minutes with Rylee Blackhall crossing after a clever show and go play before Mason Williams added the extras.
Macquarie hit back through their own captain-coach Alex Ronayne who was on the receiving end of a brilliant short ball from Wyndham Peachey who added the extra points to tie the game up at 6-all.
Wellington fullback Will Lousick then poked a grubber through which Wallace Bruce pounced on to score the Cowboys second of the day, with Williams again converting.
The back and forth nature of the game continued when Macquarie prop Jack Kavanagh barged over to score next to the posts and Peachey made no mistake with the kick.
CJ Ralph then showed some real pace to dart down the sideline before cutting back in to score for Wellington to give them a 16-12 lead.
The lead would not last long however, Kavanagh scored his second of the day and Peachey again converted as the Raiders went into half-time with an 18-16 lead.
Electric Raiders winger Tyler Bamblett then found his way to the try line early in the second half after Sam Coe threw a brilliant cut out pass to extend the Macquarie lead.
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, Lousick left the field early in the second half with a foot injury and did not return to the game as Wellington scrambled to cover positions.
But great sides are rarely out of a game and Wellington hit back through EJ Fernando leaping above the Raiders defenders to take a high ball before scoring but Williams missed the kick giving Macquarie a 22-20 lead.
Something had to give in the second half with both sides failing to complete sets and giving penalties away until Toomey-White crashed over with just two minutes remaining to put Wellington back in front.
Williams made no mistake on his conversion attempt as Wellington completed their last set before kicking the ball out as the siren rang.
WELLINGTON COWBOYS 26 (Justin Toomey-White, Rylee Blackhall, Wallace Bruce, CJ Ralph, EJ Fernando tries; Mason Williams 3 goals) defeated MACQUARIE RAIDERS 22 (Jack Kavanagh 2, Tyler Bamblett, Alex Ronyane tries; Wyndham Peachey 3 goals)
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