TOO LATE: Real Juice’s Daniel Draskovic is too quick for Amanti during their Monday night game at Collina. Picture: Anthony Stipo
A LAST-gasp try to Real Juice/Bar 188 saw them grab a narrow 5-4 victory over Amanti at Collina Oval on Monday.
Real Juice took control of the game early, scoring a try just minutes after the first whistle.
But Amanti were determined not to let them run away with it and some excellent defensive work on Amanti's try line shut down any chance Real Juice had to widen the lead.
While Amanti had chances to open their account, they were their own worst enemy and kept turning over the ball whenever they got near Real Juice's try line.
It was ten minutes before Real Juice was able to break through Amanti's backline with Dean Dinicola taking them to a 2-0 lead.
Real Juice's second try spurred Amanti on and just minutes later the men in red scored their first try.
Both teams had opportunities to put another try on the scoreboard before the half-time whistle but neither could capitalise and Real Juice led 2-1 going into the break.
Coming out of the blocks firing, Real Juice's Andrew Quarisa took his squad out to a two-try lead early in the second half but Amanti soon answered back with a try in the corner to Glenn Punch.
Seeing their chance to equalise for the first time in the match, Amanti threw everything they had at Real Juice and were rewarded when Punch crossed for the second time to make it 3-all.
But it wasn't for long and Real Juice was soon back in the lead after finding a gap in Amanti's backline.
Play surged back and forth across the field as both teams tried to seize control of the game and it was Amanti's William Jaffrey who managed to dive over the line and tie the game up once again at 4-all.
With time running out both teams threw everything they had into the contest but Amanti's defence wasn't able to maintain the pace and Real Juice easily crossed the line one minute before full-time to seal the win.
Real Juice/Bar 188 5
Amanti 4