A field goal in the final seconds gave Darlington Point-Coleambally a thrilling 25-24 victory over the Yenda Blueheelers in the last round of the Group 20 season at Wade Park on Sunday.
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The Roosters looked like they had blown a win when they allowed the Blueheelers to fight back from 24-0 down to level the game with two minutes remaining thanks to a converted try from hooker Richie Bamblett.
But the visitors had one more trick up their sleeves. A short kick-off from fullback Josh Veivers was regathered to put the Roosters on the attack.
Yenda scrambled admirably to keep the Roosters out for five tackles, but they could do nothing to stop Veivers snapping a brilliant field goal from nearly 30 metres out with 10 seconds remaining.
The victory moved the Roosters to third on the ladder and gave them a second chance in the finals series, which starts this week.
On that front, DPC achieved what they wanted from Sunday’s road trip, but player-coach Ryan McGoldrick wouldn’t be happy his team surrendered a 24-point lead.
The Roosters couldn’t have enjoyed a better start after scoring two converted tries before the Blueheelers had even touched the ball.
When Simon Fuller crossed for DPC’s third, the Blueheelers looked set for a long afternoon.
Both teams had a player sent off and sin-binned after a fight broke out near half-time, but there was no denying the Roosters’ superiority in the opening 40 minutes.
The visitors’ domination of the contest continued after the restart when winger John Maxwell touched down for his side’s fourth converted try of the afternoon in the 49th minute.
But the Blueheelers weren’t done with yet. Bamblett – arguably the best player on the park – sparked the home side’s comeback with a try from dummy-half before two more converted efforts reduced the Roosters’ lead to six points.
Both teams were guilty of poor handling in a frantic final seven minutes, but Bamblett kept a cool head to set up a grandstand finish with a try from a quick tap.