THE Snowy River Bears play their Group 16 rugby league semi final in Jindabyne on Sunday after their strong win last weekend in the local derby against the Cooma Stallions earned them a home ground semi.
Having to win to secure the home semi final, the Bears played some of their season’s best footy to set up a commanding lead at half time in what was their heritage round.
Aided by a strong southerly wind, the Bears were roaring on all cylinders and led 28-14 at half time. Cooma fought back in the last ten minutes of the first half to narrow the scoreline.
Bears stalwart Adam Walters, who first played for the Snowy River Bears as a six-year-old said the team played best half of football all year in the heritage round.
“Just from the word go, finally all the hard work has started to come together. Boys coming back inside, blokes stepping up from playing reserve grade helped us out, a few more things we can work on but other than that, hard work, good carries and defence working them over helped us out in the long run,” said Walters.
Fullback Dean Wilson and forward Troy Freebody were responsible for much of the first half attacking momentum.
Big centre Isaac Seeto was a handful every time he touched the ball and hard working forward Adam Walters made breaks. First half tries were scored by Dean Wilson (2), captain Josh Hitchens, forward Corey Thomas and Maika Rovouvou. Brendon Taueki converted four first half tries.
The second half was a different story, and now with the wind behind them the Stallions waged a fightback as the Bears lacked some of their first half polished play.
Joshua McDonald and Richard Bensley-Reid would score the Stallions, while Dean Wilson scored his third for the Bears.
“Yeah, the local derby’s good, it's always tough. No matter if their running top or whoever's running on the bottom. It's always tough. It's always close,” said Troy Freebody who caused havoc running with the ball.
“It was tough. It was pretty straightforward to the bears. We just want to go out there and play that dumb footy sort of thing. And just the one out stuff and just complete to 100%. And we started pretty shit hot. I think it was 26 nil. And yeah, it was good,” said Troy.
Commenting on the two different halves of footy, he said the wind did make a difference.
“Yeah, we had it up our butt running down there. And then coming into that second half. I didn't realise how hard it was going into the wind. It was tough. We're dropping balls, we were pushing passes and yeah, it wasn't coming to our side much.”
“But we come through and gritted it out and it was all right. “
The end score being 34-28 in favour of the home side with the Snowy River Bears securing the local derby John Patton Memorial Cup for this year.
Sunday Semi Final
First Grade Snowy River Bears v Mourya
The Bears will have a tough encounter on Sunday, they played Moruya in early June and came away with a close 28-20 win.
“Mourya’s got a big forward pack, same game plan, they’ll be strong across the park,” was how Adam Walters described the task ahead.
The Snowy River Bears finished the regular season second on the table on 24 points, two points behind minor premiers Eden Tigers. The Mourya Sharks sit third on the table on 23 points.
On Saturday August 3, the Merimbula Pambula Bulldogs beat the Tathra Sea Eagles 38-22 to stay in the hunt for the 2024 season.
Sunday will see a full day of rugby league at JJ Connors Oval.
