Minor premiers Young Guns will again contest the women’s premier grade grand final after surviving an almighty scare from Farmers Home Hotel in their preliminary final on Tuesday night.
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Gripped in a 3-all deadlock midway through the second half, Young Guns had to dig deep to pull out a tense 6-4 win at Jubilee Park and line up a second shot at defending premiers AKW Jets.
Young Guns were unable to snatch the lead until a late Ella MacFarlane try saw them skip ahead 5-4 with five minutes on the clock and it took a Molly McCrone dash to seal the deal.
The Temora Dragons flyer dissected Farmers’ defence with two minutes to play to put her side ahead by two tries and save coach Mark Wade the blushes of a straight sets exit.
Farmers threatened their fancied opposition all day and opening the scoring after a see-sawing introduction.
Asha Murphy was denied an early try up one end before Young Guns counterpart Lucy Anderson fell victim to a late touch at the other.
Tanayar Hinch was a constant menace in attack and looked likely to strike but it was Murphy who found the chalk first for Farmers, putting the purple side ahead.
McCrone hit back instantly, squaring the ledger with a weaving effort but Molly Antone restored Farmers’ lead with a try of her own just two minutes later.
McFarlane then posted her first score after a sustained period of pressure but neither side could gain ascendancy ahead of halftime.
It was Madeline Morton who put Farmers back in front in the second term as Young Guns began to falter at the death.
There was to be no underdog win, however, as Caitlin Kelly, McFarlane and McCrone combined for three sizzling tries to seal a come-from-behind thriller.
It was Madeline Morton who put Farmers back in front in the second term as Young Guns began to falter at the death.
There was to be no underdog win, however, as Caitlin Kelly, McFarlane and McCrone combined for three sizzling tries to seal a come-from-behind thriller.
Meanwhile, Advanced Communications Cobras will face The Casuals next week after sneaking past Quolls in a similarly gripping men’s preliminary final.
Cobras skipper Andrew Baggio played a starring role for his side, striking twice in the first half before running in a second half hat-trick to finish with five of the best on the big stage.
Cade Price and Jack Flood were impressive in a losing side, finishing with two tries apiece, but it wasn’t enough as Cobras overran a half time deficit to storm home 8-6 winners.
The loss adds to a string of preliminary final defeats for an unlucky Quolls outfit.
