Vinnie Papalli busted through the Milton Platypus players on Saturday.
Chris Anderson scored for the Bluetongues during the home game.
LEFT: Brett Hodak caused some trouble for the visitors with big runs that proved hard to stop. RIGHT: Shaun Walcott scored a hat trick during the match, with Bombala taking a 53-10 victory.
THE Bombala RSL Club Bluetongues had four reserves for their home game on Saturday against a much improved Milton Platypus team to battle it out for a home semi final.
Strong runs from our big forwards gave the opposition a lot of tackling practice, and this sustained pressure saw No. 10 Chris “Stan” Anderson glide through for a try successfully converted by Jackson Standen.
Ray “Jobsy” Kading and big Brett Hodak troubled the sides of the rucks with big runs that were hard to stop; Sam Caldwell busted through and went to pop the ball to support but was unable to offload. A few phases later Shaun “Walky” Walcott whizzed down the sideline to cross the line out wide, not converted.
The Milton team came together and after a huge wind assisted kick went over the sideline in the 22; their big tall forwards took control of a rolling maul deep in Bluetongue territory and scored their first try.
The local lads had some individual runs but were not linking up, trying to score tries at each phase. After a nice run, winger Hugh Platts scored his first try for the day, converted by Ben Mooney, who was back from his 10 minutes in the sin bin for a late collision with the opposition prop.
A break from the Platypus saw a winger streak down the side line after a great kick and chase, but was smashed out by “Rossco” Page. Halftime score 19-5.
Milton found their groove after the break and scored again through their forward pack rolling the maul for 10 metres after a lineout, 19-10.
Poor discipline allowed the visitors to gain field position through penalties, but good contesting in the line-outs saw them unable to gain any momentum. “Walky” grabbed a great try out wide and this saw the Milton boy’s wilt and the floodgates opened in the last six minutes.
Hugh Platts scored his second try and our other winger Jackson swerved his way over the line. He was unlucky not to get another try when he was tripped after he grubbed the ball into the ingoal, but “Rossco” was there to get his name in the scoresheet.
“Walky” grabbed his last try through a great intercept, converted by Mooney. With one play to go Sio “Horse” Papalli had a great run and passed off the ground to rampaging Ray Kading who got a well deserved try. The end score was 53-10.
When Milton come up for the finals with a couple of reserves it will be a much closer game. This weekend we travel to Narooma, who play for pride with their season campaign over. Bombala are cemented in at third spot for the semi-finals, well clear of fourth place.
Three points were awarded to Ross Page, two to Jackson Standen, and one each to Ben Mooney and Brett Hodak. Player’s Player went to Jackson for a great game and the Commitment Cup went to Hugh Platts.