Goodooga Magpies completed a fairy tale season in their return to the men’s competition after a breathtaking Grand Final win in the Barwon Darling Rugby League on Saturday.
A field goal was all that separated Goodooga and the Bourke Warriors who were playing in front of a boisterous home crowd. The Magpies claimed a 27-26 win to complete a trilogy of unbelievably close matches across the season. The two sides had already drawn one game and had a win apiece with one point separating them both times.
It was hard not to feel sorry for Bourke, who trailed 22-10 at the break before launching a gutsy comeback in the second half through tries to Rueben Barker and Jamahl Smith.
Scores were level at 22-all for a period before Goodooga kicked clear once more with a field goal and an unconverted try but Bourke had a chance to take the lead near full-time when Bruce Dean crashed over for the home side.
Unfortunately, the conversion went wide, sparking amazing scenes as Goodooga players and fans stormed the field to celebrate their first title in 35 seasons, a feat made more amazing given that they have only returned this year from a prolonged period without even having a side.
There was no shortage of stories in the men’s game, none more so than that of Kevin Hooper and Lincoln Wood who won a premiership as father and son.
"We live and breathe football in Goodooga," Magpies player Robert Lane told The Western Herald after the match.
It was Lane who put his team in front 23-22 with a field goal as the game started to build towards its conclusion.
“Out of 200 people...only about five people were left in the town [while the game was on],” he said.
“There's people that left Tamworth at four o'clock this morning to come watch their hometown in a Grand Final...Dubbo [as well].
“It was a battle all the way through. Bourke scored on the bell but, missed the goal near the uprights.”
Earlier in the match, the sides exchanged tries early, Bourke getting out to a 10-6 lead before Goodooga piled on three in a row to turn the game on its head.
Michael Lane picked up the man of the match award for Goodooga, starring at halfback for the champions.
While the ultimate result was a case of agony for one side and ecstasy for another, it was a fitting finale on a sensational day of footy, with all represented clubs having vocal support and the match, like all the Grand Finals, played in fantastic spirit.
The Golden Googars made a clean sweep of the Under 15s and Under 18s boys and the Under 15s girls Grand Finals, defeating Lightning Ridge in both Under 15s matches and the Walgett Dragons in the Under 18s boys.
The other senior match saw Lightning Ridge line up against Walgett in the women’s League Tag, and the Redbacks probably started as logical favourites given their recent form but against one of the most experienced sides in the competition it was never going to be easy.
There was more than enough class in the Walgett side to test out the Minor Premiers and they did just that, turning in a dominant performance to claim a 24-12 win, spearheaded by a Kiara Smith hat-trick and another try from Essina Sullivan. All four tries were converted by Pam Abel.
Ridge fought hard and got tries from Vada Seaton and Kristina Pico and two goals from Tilah Ciprian but the Dragons were too strong. Smith was named player of the match for her effort.
RESULTS
Men's
Goodooga 27 (Bailee Nicholl 2, Bhiame Williamson, Brody Tzvetkoff, Kyle Webb tries; Tyron Cochrane 3 goals, Robert Lane field goal) Bourke 26 (Hogan Shillingsworth, Jamahl Smith, Shimar Dennis, Rueben Barker, Bruce Morris tries; Smith 3 goals)
Women's League Tag
Walgett Dragons 24 (Kiara Smith 3, Essina Sullivan tries; Pam Abel 4 goals) defeated Lightning Ridge 12 (Vada Seaton, Kristina Pico tries; Tilah Ciprian 2 goals)
Under 15s Girls' Tag
Brewarrina 28 (Taloueah Moore 2, Taniqua Morris 2, Jakiyah French, Jenette Boney tries; Lelani Boney 2 goals) defeated Lightning Ridge 14 (Chantelle Wallace 3 tries; Quenisha Walford goal)
Under 15s Boys
Brewarrina 34 (Zeke Hardy 3, Dekeam Waites, Kyle Salt, Colin Gibson tries; Hardy 2, Salt goals) defeated Lightning Ridge 20(Paxton Kaluski 2, Cameron Garland, Jack Miller tries; Kaluski 2 goals)
Under 18s boys
Brewarrina 32 (Malakye Biles 2, Kaeden Swan, Mythys Grant, Keelan Nicholls, Dymirikye Weatherall tries; Ty Boney 2, Swan, Kieran Boney goals) defeated Walgett 4 (Tasharn Murray try)
