Ag College are one win away from a grand final berth after a dogged effort to take down Leeton for the second week running.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Unlike their 57-10 win in the last round of the season, this time the Wagga club were really pushed by the premiers.
The Phantoms dominated possession for most of the first 60 minutes of the clash before Ag College turned the tide to take a 37-12 win at Conolly Rugby Complex on Saturday.
Three tries in the last seven minutes saw the scoreline blow out but coach Will Mitchell was thrilled with the heart showed by his side after being put under plenty of pressure.
“These old heads on young bodies managed to calm it down, force turnovers and get out of trouble,” Mitchell said.
“It was a very different tryscoring episode to last week.
“We were going with turnover ball out wide and this time on turnover ball they shut us down really well and we had to build a minimum of seven or eight phases to get on the front foot.
“Leeton is a very good defensive side and their contact is pretty brutal, but they put up with the physical side of it to get the chocolates.”
Ag College scored in the opening minutes through Matt Harris before defending for most of the first half.
Leeton had plenty of opportunities in great positions but struggled to find a away through the Aggies defence.
They eventually cracked when Petero Taitusi scored out wide off a scrum however Ag College hit back as Jack McIntosh scored on the last play of the first half for a 10-5 lead going into the break.
Mitchell was pleased with how they responded to the pressure.
“It is really mature footy and it amazes me just how mature this football side has become,” he said.
Leeton hit the front early in the second when they scored through Mesulame Navakayala before a rare win from the set piece set Aggies on the winning trajectory.
The bigger Phantoms side dominated line outs and scrums, but a pushover effort from Pat Lemmich turned the tide.
Shortly after Gerard McTaggart, who was outstanding, darted over from close range.
A penalty goal and two tries from Andrew Knox, including a 70-metre intercept on the last play of the game, sealed the win and set up a date with undefeated Waratahs.
The minor premiers are the last team to get the way of Ag College, way back in round eight.
Mitchell has been impressed by how far his team have come and can’t wait to tackle his former side.
“We’re just excited and have a free crack at Waratahs to make the big dance,” he said.