Rovers Jared Prosser looking to unload to a support.
The Boorowa Rovers season came to an abrupt end last Saturday when they were dumped out of the competition by the rejuvenated Harden Hawks in front of a huge crowd at the Boorowa Showground.
A second half eight-minute blitz by Harden stunned the Rovers who went down by 38-28 in a free-flowing encounter. The Rovers led 12-0 early on, before the Hawks had time to spread their wings. Joe Prosper scored out wide for Boorowa after five minutes with a converted try. Three minutes later Rovers second rower Matt Canellis steamed onto a Jared Prosser off load to crash over for a 12-0 lead.
It wasn’t long though before the Hawks went up a gear and did some damage of their own. Hawks Halfback Jayden Cutting scored from 15 metres out going through the defensive line to score almost untouched. Not long after it was Drew Arabin who crashed over for Harden and when full back Jack Nicholls crossed for the Hawks third try after 27 minutes, Harden led by 14-12 in the blink of an eye.
Boorowa had some attacking chances late in the half, but the score remained at 14-12 until half-time.
Early in the second half, the state of the match quickly changed with three unanswered tries by Harden in the first eight minutes blowing the game wide open. A silenced Boorowa crowd watched in disbelief as their season was all but over in the blink of an eye.
After two minutes of the second stanza Jayden Cutting went in for his second try. Chris Campbell was the next to score for Harden in the 6th minute before Cutting and Nicholls combined for Nicolls to score Hardens third try and all but seal the Rovers fate. Boorowa did not have possession of the ball for the first ten minutes of the second half which took a huge toll on a tiring defence. But the Rovers refused to die and replied to the Hawks onslaught with a try to winger Charlie Fogg in the corner. Cooper Cross landed a nice conversion, and the lead was cut to 12.
At 30-18 there was a heartbeat and a flicker of hope for the locals, but that was quickly snuffed out by a converted try to Steve Anderson for Harden and a late penalty goal to take the score out to 38-18 with nine minutes left. The Rovers battled all the way with two tries in the final three minutes, both by fullback Austin Power, including a superb 60-meter run to score. However, it was too little too late and merely made the score a little more respectable at 38-28. Harden fans rejoiced whilst Boorowa were left to lament what could have been, bowing out of the premiership race with consecutive losses.
Harden 38, Jack Nicholls 2, Jayden Cutting 2, Drew Arabin, Christopher Campbell, Steve Anderson Tries, Thomas Mcillhatton 4 Goals, 1 Penalty Goal defeated Boorowa 28, Austin Power 2, Joe Prosper, Charlie Fogg, Matt Canellis tries, Cooper Cross 4 Goals, 1 Penalty Goal.
This weeks Grand Final between Harden and Bungendore is a replay of the 2024 decider where Bungendore reigned supreme by 30-10. These teams have met twice this season with the first encounter seeing Bungendore win 30-22 whilst the second meeting was a thrilling 22-22 All draw.
Momentum is a huge advantage, and the Hawks have it in spades after playing three sudden death games to reach the Grand Final. They toughed out a gritty 10-8 win over Binalong before disposing of Crookwell 48-6 in week two and then Boorowa last Saturday.
Bungendore have had just two games in the last five weeks and should be fresh, maybe too fresh.
If the battle-weary Hawks are to win, much of the responsibility will fall on halfback Jayden Cutting. He destroyed Crookwell two weeks ago and did a similar job on Boorowa last weekend. Bungendore will try to intimidate the Harden forwards, but the Hawks mobile pack will be up for the challenge.
Bungendore will start favourites but that wont phase Harden who have shown they can come from behind and are certainly fit enough. This could be an upset win for the Hawks and redemption for last year’s grand final loss.
The tip: Harden by four.
In the league tag grand final, the Harden Hawkettes will take on the Crookwell She-Devils after Crookwell knocked out the minor premiers North Canberra by 18 to 8 last weekend. The grand final will be a replay of the qualifying final three weeks ago when Harden kicked a late field goal to beat Crookwell 17-16.
This game will see another close match where defence will be the key. It may just be a case of the more experienced Hawkettes finding a way to win. Hawkettes by six.
Whilst it was disappointing finish for the Rovers, the team certainly gave their supporters a lot to smile about in 2025 and they will be back to do it all again in 2026.
All the best, to our neighbours and old foes, the Harden Hawks and Hawkettes on Saturday. (Photo’s by Roaming with Belle).
– Sand Boy
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