UNDER the cover of darkness at Conolly Rugby Complex, Tumut mounted a remarkable recover to keep its season alive on Saturday.
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Trailing by as many as 19 points during the first half and down 26-12 at the break, the Bulls scored three unanswered tries to book a place in the first division preliminary final.
Five-eighth Christino Manuolevao did most of the damage, scoring the try to level things up with 17 minutes to go before putting his team back in front.
A knock on by Jack Burey 20 metres out from his try line was the catalyst for Manuolevao's match winning trying, but the silky playmaker glided through Aggies' defence on both occasions to score relatively untouched.
Both teams didn't have the best of times in the premier division, but it was the Bulls that found enough momentum to ensure they would take on Temora on Saturday.
Making the win stand-out even more, Tumut were down on troops with three players making up from second grade in the starting lineup.
Losing fullback Justin Shortis to a hamstring injury in the warmup, coach Tim Graham was pleased with the way his team were able to get themselves back into the game.
"We was very disappointing in the first half, lacking a lot of intensity but it was a top effort to come back in the second half and get back on top," Graham said.
"We were very lacklustre and weren't there really, but they switched on and brought it home."
Injuries are a major concern for the Bulls ahead of the preliminary final, but Graham is hopeful he will be able to regather his team in time to tackle Temora.
In a big day for the club first and second grade both won but the third grade team bowed out to Waratahs.