The Boorowa Rovers have booked a date with the Bungendore Tigers in this week’s major semi-final of the George Tooke Shield following a convincing 24-10 over Crookwell at the Boorowa showground last Saturday.
After holding a narrow two-point lead at halftime, the Rovers managed to shut down the Crookwell attack and keep the Green Devils scoreless in the second half.
Boorowa now heads to Bungendore with a shot at winning a home grand final, whilst for Crookwell there will be no tomorrow if they lose to Harden this Sunday at Crookwell.
The Hawks survived last weekend after they defeated Binalong by 10-8 in an arm wrestle at Harden on Sunday. Crookwell made the perfect start after just five minutes on Saturday when Kayne Davis scored the first try for a 4-0 lead.
The Green Devils were running hot early and almost had a second try, but the Rovers goal line defence managed to repel the attack for three consecutive sets. Boorowa began to get some good field possession and took the lead 6-4 when Cooper Cross steamed into score.
Their second try saw the familiar combination of Nick Stephens splitting the defence before off-loading to speedster Austin Power who went in to score. These two are destroying opposition defences this season.
At 12-4, the Rovers were in command, but when Cooper Cross went to the “naughty” bin for ten minutes the pressure was back on Boorowa. Crookwell were the next to score through Zach Hart who converted his own try to make it 12-10 to the Rovers at half time.
The second half was an arm wrestle for the first ten minutes but eventually it was the Rovers who began to gain the upper hand. Matt Canellis looked to be on his way to the line only to be pulled up on a forward pass whilst Will Fahey made a great break before being halted.
It wasn’t long before Canellis scored after steaming through the tiring Devils defence to score and give Boorowa an eight-point buffer at 18-10. With 12 minutes left, the Rovers drove another dagger into the Devils when Murray armour ploughed his way to the try line to score a converted try and give the Rovers a fourteen-point lead, the same as the game seven days earlier.
Crookwell threw everything at Boorowa, but the Rovers were never going to let this game slip, booking their ticket to the Major semifinal winning 24-10.
The Rovers had valuable players all over the park. Cooper Cross was outstanding filling the position vacated by Jared Prosser who was a late withdrawal with a hamstring strain. Hopefully, Jared will be back in action soon.
Nick Stephens and Austin Power were lethal, like wise Will Fahey. The big boys up front are holding their own whilst Hayden Hewitt and Will Sullivan are doing tremendous work as impact players coming off the bench. If the side stays reasonably healthy, they will be a handful for the remaining three other teams. Boorowa 24: Austin Power, Cooper Cross, Matt Canellis and Murray Armour tries. Cooper Cross four goals defeated Crookwell 10, Zach Hart, Kayne Davis tries, Zach Hart 1 goal.
The major semi-final at Bungendore sees the two best attacking teams going head-to-head. Boorowa has scored more points than any other side, and a dry track this weekend will suit the Rovers. Both teams have match winners in their backlines, and it may just be the side that is more disciplined that gets the win. They have met twice this season with one win each. Boorowa won 20-14 in round one at Boorowa whilst Bungendore won 30-22 at Bungendore.
Bungendore should be refreshed and ready to go having not played since August 16th whilst the battle-hardened Rovers completed two tough games against the Crookwell Green Devils in eight days to get to this match.
If the Tigers start slowly, the Boorowa backline will pounce and if the Rovers can reproduce their outstanding goal line defence, they should get the win. Tip is the Rovers by two.
The sudden death minor semi-final between the Harden Hawks and Crookwell at Crookwell promises to be another tight game. They have only met once this season with Crookwell winning 22-18 at Harden.
Crookwell have tasted defeat twice in eight days after going nine games without a defeat. They will be up for this and on their home ground they will be tough to beat. Harden relied heavily on their defence against Binalong and will need to do the same against Crookwell’s big forwards.
There won’t be much in this but at home the Green Devils should get the job done.
Tip is Crookwell by four points. It’s a massive weekend of football in the George Tooke Shield where four teams left will become three by Sunday night. See you there.
– Sand Boy
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