BREATHING new life into their own Group Nine premiership chase, Southcity cast a shadow over Kangaroos chances in the process with a dogged 22-12 victory at Equex Centre on Sunday.
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Shaking off a month of indifferent form, Southcity scored two tries in each half to defy Roos in a football “arm-wrestle”.
The Bulls made Roos pay for often comical errors, building on a 10-6 half-time lead to overpower their Wagga rivals.
Reacting to the four tries to two tries triumph, Southcity captain-coach Nick Skinner later described the success as one of the team’s most significant of the season.
“Definitely,” Skinner said.
“That’s give us a chance.
“It’s so tight for the finals that every game is critical.”
For Southcity, beating Kangaroos has given the Bulls an opportunity to clinch an important top-three position for the finals starting in three weeks.
With only games to go play struggling Cootamundra and winless Tumbarumba, Southcity has already slipped into third place, leapfrogging Kangaroos along the way.
After going into Sunday’s game in third spot, Kangaroos have now dropped to fourth, with games to go against high-flying Junee and battling Tumut.
Taking stock, Roos captain-coach Adam Hall made it clear the team was under siege late in the season.
“We really need to win our last two games,” Hall said.
“We’ll be in trouble for the finals if we don’t.”
In typical style, Hall pulled no punches following the mistake-ridden loss.
“We made far too many silly mistakes,” Hall said.
“We need to play better … we need to play a lot better.”
On a day when Roos gave up valuable possession with poor ball-control and several ordinary kicks, Hall’s assessment was certainly on the money.
Although at times Roos showed amazing resolve and tenacity to withstand intense attacking pressure on their line, they were also absolute lame ducks when it mattered most.
Pointedly, Roos led 6-0 after Zeik Foster pounced on a Hall grubber to score in the 22nd minute, but the Bulls hit back four minutes later with a solo try to Kyle McCarthy.
Following through on his own grubber, McCarthy embarrassed the Roos defence to dive on the ball for a try before landing the conversion to made it six-all.
When Roos fumbled another kick near their line in the 31st minute, Southcity took full advantage with Jack Lyons ultimately putting winger Steven Kemp across for a try.
Up 10-6 at half-time, Southcity stretched the lead to 16-6 when Skinner and Nathan Rose combined in the 56th minute to send Lyons gliding over for a try, which McCarthy converted.
Celebrations were short lived as Roos conjured a blistering try in the 61st minute, scored by Mitch Blackstock after some wonderful work by Lachlan Cuell, Jake Dooley and Warren Lloyd.
Just when it seemed Roos were in the scrap again, Skinner and Tim Hurst sent Brent Snowden powering over for the most telling try of the day.
While Snowden’s try was the killer blow, Southcity had other frontline stars, most notably McCarthy and Rose.
Refreshed after a week off for the bye, the two Bulls halves each produced a swish performance to steer their team home.
Likewise, Skinner was superb and continues to shoulder a massive load.
In the wash-up, Roos virtually bumbled their way out of the contest, but Skinner’s team was precise enough to impose their will.
Full-time
SOUTHCITY 22 (J Lyons, S Kemp, K McCarthy, B Snowden tries; K McCarthy 3 goals) d KANGAROOS 12 (M Blackstock, Z Foster tries; A Hall 2 goals) at Equex Centre. Scrums: 10-9. Penalties: 9-7