Finals fever struck Cooma Oval again on Monday evening as Narrabri Touch’s men’s teams lined up for their first fixtures since their regular season came to a close a week earlier.
There was a qualifying final and an elimination final contested in each division in the first of a four-week finals series, with the teams that were ranked second and third meeting in the qualifier and the teams that were ranked fourth and fifth playing off in the eliminator.
The minor premiers in both divisions had the bye on Monday and will now meet the respective qualifying final winners in their major semi-final fixtures in week two of the finals this Monday, December 1.
The two teams that finished at the top of the tables were the Grumley Builders in A-grade and the DTA Timber Lumberjacks in B-grade.
Joining Grumley Builders in the A-grade major semi-final following a nail-biting qualifying final victory on Monday are the Gee Bangers.
Gee Bangers finished ranked third on their competition ladder but defeated second-placed side Lations to storm into the grand final playoff match.
Ryan Williams produced an impressive four-try effort in that game to guide his side to victory, and the other four Gee Bangers tries were shared between Damon Gleeson, Hayden Bell, Blake Brown and Blake Hilderson.
Lations’ Rodney Stanford-Lamb crossed twice for his team, and their other five tries were claimed by Chris Clark, Cooper Mason, Clifford Toomey Jnr, Braedon Mason-Kelly and Darren Mason.
The other A-grade match played on Monday saw Win Or Booze become the first team to be eliminated from the competition, just a week after they thought they had secured a qualifying final spot.
Win Or Booze beat Lations in the fifth and final round of the regular season, but the three points ended up going to Lations after it was deemed Win Or Booze had fielded an ineligible player, which meant they finished ranked fourth on the ladder instead of third.
They then met fifth-place Up The Middle in the first week of the finals on Monday, who managed to secure their first win since the teams were split into grades last month as they downed Win Or Booze 8-4.
Frazer Penberthy finished the contest with a hat-trick in his side’s victory, while Ollie Ford bagged a double and Fletcher Whan, Lachie Coffey and Nate Dewson all scored a try each.
Hamish Duncan and Cody Smith both crossed twice for Win Or Booze in their final game of the season.
The B-grade qualifying final saw second-placed Cougars and third-placed Ballbusters go head-to-head for a chance to take on the DTA Timber Lumberjacks in the major semi-final, and like the A-grade qualifying final, it was a high-scoring thriller decided by just one try as Cougars edged out Ballbusters 7-6.
Rowan Keeler starred for Cougars in their win with four tries, and teammates Martin Taylor, Andrew Wallace and Kaylan Murray chipped in with a try each.
The six Ballbusters tries were all scored by six different try-scorers as Brett Allison, Waldo Botha, Connor Parkes, Travis Heffernan, Matt Hall and Liam Schwager each went over.
The B-grade elimination final contest saw JWG Livewires score their first win of the season as they took down Reg Reagans 6-3 to move onto week two of the finals series.
Seamus Hunt bagged a double in his side’s win, and their other four tries were shared between Pat Hubbard, Ben Stride, Bernard Gabbott and David Edmeades.
Reg Reagans’ Peter Meppem went over twice and Matt Bradshaw scored once in their side’s last game of the season.
Meanwhile, the ladies’ regular season came to an end on Monday evening and there was a major twist as the ladder leaders fell at the final hurdle of the minor premiership race.
In-form duo Specialised Civil Services and Many’s Contractors entered round 15 ranked first and second, respectively, and they were locked on 39 points following 12 wins, a draw against one another and also a loss against one another each.
Many’s Contractors played in the first timeslot and scored a 9-0 victory against The FAFs to put the pressure on Specialised Civil Services, who just needed to win their match by any scoreline, given the two top-ranked teams were level on for and against difference.
However, Specialised Civil Services lost for just the second time this season as they were beaten 4-3 by Golfie Gobblers.
The other ladies’ match saw TJC Steelers defeat Hounddogs 4-1.
The six ladies’ teams have now been split into two grades based on their final ladder positions, with Many’s Contractors, Specialised Civil and Hounddogs going off into A-grade and TJC Steelers, Golfie Gobblers and The FAFs making up B-grade.
Their finals series will not get underway this Monday, but the sides will all take the field for a hitout before the preliminary final matches are played on Monday, December 8.
Those first finals games will see the teams ranked second and third go head-to-head for a chance to meet the top-ranked teams in the grand finals on December 15.
Grand final night will be held at Dangar Park.
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