Emily Chate
Collegians have booked their place in the Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup Grand Final after a comprehensive 24-6 win over De La Salle in the Major Semi-final at Collegians Sports Stadium today.
It was a gritty defensive performance by Collegians who restricted the Minor Premiers to only one try and kept them scoreless in the second half.
Collegians will now head straight to the Grand Final where they will face the winner of De La Salle and Thirroul Butchers, who scored a thrilling 18-16 win over Western Suburbs Devils in the Minor Semi-final.
De La Salle started the match in strong fashion after Trentham Petersen scored in the corner and Eli Levido knocked over the conversion for a 6-0 lead.
Collegians took advantage of a series of penalties for Blake Dowel to cross the try line and level the scores at 6-all after a successful conversion.
The teams traded sets for the next 15 minutes until a floating pass from Collegians five-eighth, Max Devlin found winger, Sam McCann, who scored in the corner untouched to give his team the lead for the first time at 12-6.
Collegians made it consecutive tries when McCann made a clean break down the sideline before finding fullback Callum Gromek in support to finish the job.
De La Salle regrouped and worked their way upfield but were unable to convert the pressure into points.
Collegians made them pay after receiving a relieving penalty and capitalising with points through Campbell Rubie to take a comfortable lead into half-time.
De La Salle had opportunities to score in the second half but the Collegians defence held firm to turn them away empty-handed.
They added salt to the wound after landing a penalty goal in the final minutes to secure the win and book their place in the decider.
