A Chip Kick In The Guts Bay Leave Macquarie Shattered After Last-minute Mullins Try
Newcastle Herald
Monday August 14, 2006
A SENSATIONAL final-minute solo try from winger Aaron Mullins gave Nelson Bay a 22-18 win over a gallant Macquarie yesterday in the Newcastle Rugby League qualifying semi-final at Peacock Field.
With scores locked at 18-all, Mullins was in danger of going into touch 30 metres out from the Macquarie line when he chip kicked before regathering and forcing the ball in the corner. Referee Don Sproule consulted his touch judge before awarding the try, which booked the defending champions a major semi-final date with minor premiers Lakes United on Sunday at Cahill Oval.Blues coach Robert Relf described the win as one of the best he had been involved in."When he chipped it I said, 'He can make a hero of himself here,' and he did. It was an unbelievable try," the former Bulldogs and Cowboys forward said."We did the hard work, which is what you need to do to win semi-finals, and we were a good enough and skilful enough side to win it."The thrilling finale came after a whole-hearted defensive effort from Macquarie, who were forced to defend in their own half for most of the second half because of errors.Scorpions captain-coach Dan Quinn was proud of his side's gutsy performance but disappointed with their many mistakes against a side who pipped them twice in the regular season."Our defence was great. We stuck it to them and hung in there," Quinn said yesterday."But today was par for the course. They seem to do that to us all the time."I'm pretty disappointed, but we live to fight another day. This does make it hard though."We didn't make things easy on ourselves. We didn't get out of own half in the second half."Macquarie play Cessnock on Saturday in the minor semi-final at Peacock Field after the Goannas downed Western Suburbs 30-14 in the elimination semi-final on Saturday at Harker Oval.Yesterday's thrilling climax came after the Blues led 12-0 on 19 minutes through tries to Cheyne McIntyre (ninth minute) and Mullins. NSW Country playmaker Warick Colley was instrumental in building the early advantage.Dropped balls in attacking positions plagued Macquarie before bench forward David Cox burst through from a scrum-play on halfway and passed to halfback Chris Swan for a four-pointer on 30 minutes.The Scorpions trailed 12-10 seven minutes later when five-eighth Jacob Briggs combined with centre Jay Bolton to put lock Ryan Johnson over. Johnson was then denied a second try, on the half-time bell, when he was held up over the line.The home side took the lead 14-12 two minutes after the break when Swan intercepted a Colley cut-out pass before running 80m to score.Two penalties, the second in the 58th minute, pushed Macquarie's advantage to six points. It was all Nelson Bay from that point as Macquarie's error count grew. But it took until six minutes from full-time for the Blues to level the scores at 18-all.Lock Trent Green touched down next to the posts after taking an inside ball from Colley.On Saturday, Cessnock utility Michael Deacon scored twice late in the game to end West's season.The Goannas' experienced line-up came up with the big plays against the youthful Rosellas.
© 2006 Newcastle Herald