Group 20 rugby league
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DARLINGTON Point-Coleambally has produced another lionhearted display, scoring in the final minutes to draw 36-36 with the Griffith Waratah Tigers yesterday at Coleambally.
David Collett came off the bench to score the decisive try with just two minutes left on the clock, denying the 'Tahs what looked in the first half to be a certain victory.
Up 20-6 at the break, Griffith took the foot off the pedal and allowed the resurgent Roosters back into the match, with prop forward Chris Latu again hugely influentual.
Ecstatic captain-coach Jay Little told The Area News it was the sort of turnaround he has now come to expect from DPC.
"The thing that got us home was the character of the boys and I think being from a small community town can play a part," he said.
The Waratahs' big boppers gave the visiting side the ascendancy in the first half but once the Point did some "soul-searching" at half-time and started attacking the fringes, they started finding gaps in the line.
Little said that was when Latu and fellow front-rower Leon Coe came into the match.
"I don't think you can dominate those guys up the middle. It would take a big pack to put it to them," he said.
"Good luck to anyone who tries - we did for the first half and we just went nowhere.
"We had our plan B, it was just a matter of initiating it - the boys put it into play in the second half and that gave us metres."
Waratahs captain-coach Kose Lelei said it was one that got away.
"We just thought we had the game already, at the start of the second half," Lelei said. "The boys slackened off but credit to the Point for giving it to us. It's good to see where we're at."
Johnny Teleaga and Fili Fili each scored doubles for the 'Tahs while Little said young gun Dillon Bartter had a career-best game in the centres.
"His workrate was really good, he made a few little breaks and offloaded, creating some second plays for us. He did really well," he said.
Little was also full of praise for halfback Jack Robb, who steered DPC's pack around to perfection after half-time.