A damaging performance from Monson Tuvale has ensured Wagga City live to fight another day.
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Wagga City are now one win away from back-to-back grand final appearances after a 31-21 win over Tumut at Leeton No.1 Oval.
Tuvale led the way for the Boiled Lollies, sparking plenty of their attacking forays with strong runs and brilliant work at the breakdown.
The big number eight scored two tries and was the catalyst for the match-winning try as Wagga City ended Tumut’s season.
He forced a turnover 80 metres out from the try line before the Boiled Lollies flooded down the field and Jesse Uhr finished off with a try under the posts.
It put his team 11 points clear before two penalty goals put Wagga City out of reach.
Justin Stanford did cross for a late try but it was all too late for the Bulls who were knocked out at the same stage for the third year running.
Coach Michael Kanck was pleased by how his team responded to having their season on the line.
“I’m very, very happy,” Kanck said.
“We have a lot of respect for Tumut, as they have quality players across the park and have a great club culture, and we knew they would have been fired up for the occasion.”
The coach was also impressed with his number eight.
“He is very good in contact, getting the turnover ball and we are a transition team,” Kanck said. “We like to focus on that and exploiting that quick ball off turnovers.”
Needing to rebound after a loss to Waratahs last week, Wagga City couldn’t have gotten off to a better start.
Jon Carmody dropped the ball in the opening seconds, giving the Boiled Lollies great field postion and they capitalised when
While they probably should have taken better advantage of a dominant first 30 minutes, Kanck was impressed by how his team responded when Tumut got right back into the contest.
“Once they controlled position we let ourselves with our work rate, that is how Tumut started some ascendancy,” he said. “We weren’t happy with that, addressed it at half-time and the team reacted to that well.”
Wagga City also won without fullback James Curgenven.
Curgenven was involved in a car accident on Wednesday and Wagga City elected to take every precaution with him.
Standing in City’s way of back-to-back grand finals are Waratahs.
The two teams have met three times since last year’s grand final with the premiers taking three wins, including one last week.
