MOREE Boomerangs earned hosting rights for their third successive grand final and a shot a a title hat-trick with a tough 28-22 victory over minor premiers Inverell Hawks at Varley Oval, Inverell on Sunday.
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A large crowd enjoyed a beautiful afternoon in summer-like conditions and paid in excess of $8000 at the gate to see Inverell open the scoring after just four minutes when unmarked winger Harold Duncan crossed off a long pass.
Moree’s first try to winger Jason Saunders was awarded after lengthy deliberation between referee Charlie Kiehne and his match officials.
Fullback Lloyd Munro’s conversion sent Moree to a 6-4 lead after a spoiling opening twenty minutes.
But four minutes later, big prop Toby Key roared across between the posts and the visitors held a 12-4 advantage.
Inverell came back hard and hooker Guy Mepham was ruled held up but a few minutes later centre Braydon Sunderland scrambled over out wide and Mepham’s conversion saw the teams go to the break 12-10 in favour of the Boomerangs.
Inverell dominated the early exchanges of the second half and, five minutes in, replacement prop Brendon Critchlow stormed onto a ball from Mepham and strolled through a yawning gap to score between the posts.
Inverell had regained the lead by 16-12.
Ten minutes later it all got better for Inverell after lanky second-rower James Ballinger made a huge break which resulted in bench player Jake Deaves darting between markers for a converted try and a ten-point lead to the home team.
Tough second-rower Mundarra Weldon, strong throughout, then made his presence felt with a barging four-pointer near the posts and the gap was just four points.
For 15 minutes, play ebbed and flowed but, with ten minutes remaining, five-eighth Rick Roberts put the Boomies back in front after Inverell prop Corey Garrett dropped the ball running out from their own end.
Munro’s successful kick put the Boomies ahead 24-22.
Weldon wrapped up the game with a minute and 40 seconds remaining when he charged across for his second try and again the Boomerangs won the right to stage the grand final.
Both coaches described the match a s “ugly”.
Each side was guilty of many errors. Forward passes, dropped ball and play the ball indiscretions were common throughout and there were plenty of high tackles.
Boomies coach Chris Binge said they knew it would be tough and thought their last 15 was good.
“We didn’t shut up shop,” Binge said.
“We’re a different team now. We know how to get down and dirty and grind out a win. I hope people understand how hard we’ve worked on and off the field to achieve this.
“Full credit to our boys. I’m over the moon for them and the club.
“They (Inverell) didn’t play their best and we were only a little bit better.”
Inverell coach Peter Stevens summed up the Hawks’ effort as disappointing.
“Our inability to complete sets in their twenty was terrible. We scored just two tries from plenty of opportunities. Execution under pressure let us down badly,” Stevens said.
The Rangs were well served by Weldon, half Jarom Haines and props Key and Warren Cain while lock Madison Smith was busy all game.
Ballinger’s effort off the bench after replacing injured (calf) second-rower Nik Dawson was a standout for the Hawks while Mepham and hard-working lock Mick Hodges played well.
Inverell now host Sunday’s preliminary finals and will play Moree Boars for the right to do battle with the Boomerangs in the grand final.