RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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COOLAMON coach Lew Roberts remained surprisingly upbeat in the aftermath of Saturday's disappointing loss to Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes.
The Hoppers coughed up a 40-point lead to go down by eight points in a thriller at Narrandera Sportsground.
The reigning premiers led for most of the day but four goals in four minutes from MCUE in the last quarter helped the Goannas to a big finals victory.
Roberts did not rant and rave about the loss but remained calm heading into sudden death football from now on.
"I'm probably disappointed with the end of the second quarter, that's what let them back into the game," Roberts said.
"The end of the second quarter was pretty crucial and from there it was just a dog fight really.
"It's disappointing but there is positives as well.
"We know we can match it with anyone, it's just a matter of putting it together for four quarters."
Coolamon will need to be the first Riverina Football League team since Turvey Park in 2002 to win the premiership after losing the qualifying final.
Only one team in RFL history has been able to recover to go on and win the next three games to claim the premiership.
Roberts is not concerned.
"It's been done before," Roberts said.
"We've got a healthy list and that makes a big difference, it's not like we're carrying blokes and need to rest them.
"We'll have to go the long way but it's not the end of the world either.
"We've still got to win three games to win it, that's the way we'll look at it."
Coolamon was so good early in the contest.
The Hoppers were on top in the middle and their forward line was dangerous.
Roberts, Joe Redfern and Rick Pritchett all started strongly and were on top.
Roberts said there were a couple of reasons behind the fade out.
"They lifted their intensity and we didn't match that for that 10 minute period going into half-time," he said.
"We probably stopped taking the game on a little bit.
"They lifted their intensity no doubt and we probably stopped a little bit."