THE Group 2 Reserve Grade minor semi final was played out at the Frank McGuren Field Grafton on Saturday where the Coffs Comets took on the Nambucca Roosters.

Big hits were a feature of this game right from the kick-off, as the forward packs of both sides went at it.

The Comets drew first blood when Paul Tighe crossed the line, converted by Simon Kelly-Wynne.

Within the next five minutes Josh Jago-Dowdy would score a try in the opposite corner and the Comets looked dangerous early with the score 10-0 and only 15 minutes into the game.

For the rest of the half Nambucca threw everything they had at Coffs but were unable to get points on the board.

Coffs were to cross again before the period was finished, with the half time score 16-0 in favour of the Comets.

Things looked better for the Roosters in the early stages of the second half with penalties and errors going in their favour.

Roosters were able to capitalise on this and Jason Jarrett crossed the line under the post with the converted try getting the Roosters in the chase, the score 16-6.

The Roosters chances slumped somewhat when a verbal exchange resulted in one of their players sent to the bin.

The battle of the big forwards continued then, with 15 minutes left in the game, a series of three line-breaks took the Roosters from one end of the field to the other and into striking distance resulting in their No 11, Chris Thornton, able to pick up a try, not converted.

It only took Coffs three minutes to answer the Roosters and put more points on the board.

The Comet’s Paul Tighe continued to pile on points and his converted try was to close out the game with the Coffs Comets coming out well on top 28-10 in what was a great game of rugby league in hot and dry conditions at Grafton.

The Comets will meet Macksville next week in South Grafton to play for a place in the Grand Final.

The precursor to the reserve grade clash was the eagerly anticipated under 18s minor semi final between the Nambucca Roosters and the Woolgoolga Seahorses, and the game did not disappoint.

Both teams played it hard right from the kick-off and it took 16 minutes for the first points to appear when the Roosters’ Josh Margetts scored a try, converted by Toby Batten.

The momentum of the game was brought to a halt well into the half when an injury to a Woopi player resulted in a timely penalty for them.

In prime field position, Woopi’s Eligh Pledger was able to get across the line, not converted.

Nambucca looked to answer these points early, however, despite some great attacking play, their efforts ended with a disallowed try.

With under five minutes in the half a 60 metre run by Jack Margetts resulted in another try for the Roosters and a conversion by Toby Batten, the half time score 12-4.

In the second half the battle for points was just as tough and it was more than 10 minutes before a gap in Woopi’s defence was spotted by Nambucca’s Euan Hill, who ran 70 metres to put Renzzo Sultan over the line, not converted, and stretch the Roosters lead to 16-4.

Frustration began to get the better of some of the Woolgoolga squad and an untimely send off added to their woes with Nambucca’s Euan Hill getting more points and Toby Batten converting, 22-4 now the score.

With 11 minutes left in the game a perfectly placed chip kick by Toby Batten across the field was picked up by Jack Margetts who scored, not converted.

While Batten was placing the kick, one of the Woopi players said to his squad, “Let’s enjoy the rest of the game fellas, as we are about to play the last 10 minutes of junior football of our lives.”

These words seemed to lift the Seahorses and an impressive team effort saw Ethan Murden cross the line, converted, bringing the score to 26-10.

In response, with three minutes on the clock, Nate Pike would score a try for the Roosters, not converted, and Woopi would bow out of the 2023 season, going down to the Roosters 30-10.

Nambucca will take on the Coffs Comets next week in South Grafton for a place in the Grand Final.

Both teams can look back on their season with pride as they have produced some great Rugby League and their development into senior players will be exciting to see next season.

By Mick BIRTLES