Four separate clubs have claimed the early-bird tickets to the Group 16 grand final after major-semi play in Cooma on Sunday.
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The Bombala High Heelers advance in league-tag, the Merimbula-Pambula under 18s, the Bega Roosters reserves and the Cooma Stallions in first grade will all get a week off before contesting the league’s ultimate round.
The High Heelers competed against the Moruya Sharkettes and with both teams having lost to each other earlier in the season, it was expected to be a cracker of a game.
With the help of captain Patrice Clear, it was Keiarna Rodwell who put first points on the board 4 to 0.
Moruya were next to score and convert putting the Sharkettes in the lead 4 to 6.
Some nice play by Sam Stewart, Amy Stone and Abby Kimber played the ball wide to speedster Tash Stewart scoring an unconverted try, 8 to 6.
Moruya scored again before half time and the Heelers trailed 8-10.
With the wind now in their back, the Heelers came out of the shed with a determined attitude and it wasn’t long before Bombala’s Amy Stone scored and with conversion the Heelers took the lead 14 -10.
The Heelers dominated from this point on with Georgie Clarke scoring next 18 – 10.
A spokesperson for the club said, “The skill of these girls was impressive to watch.”
A move from Sam Stewart offloading to Georgie Clarke led to the Heelers scoring right on the buzzer, took the High Heelers to a convincing 22 – 10 win and securing them a spot in the grand final, the first time since they entered the competition in 2015.
Earlier, a number of teams had their hopes dashed during an elimination final in Pambula on Saturday where the Bega 18s went down to Narooma, the Merimbula-Pambula Hot Doggies went down to the Bega Chicks, Moruya lost to the Bull Ants in reserves.
In first grade, the Roosters wrapped up their 2017 campaign in extra time against the Bulldogs, going down 13-12 after an extremely close contest.
Moruya will play host to the preliminary final this weekend where teams will have their last ditch effort at securing a grand final spot.
The Moruya Sharkettes will be the Sharks’ only hope left in the draw when they meet the Bega Chicks.
The Bay Tigers will again meet the Narooma Devils in the under 18s contest.
Minor premiers Candelo-Bemboka will look to rally against the Bull Ants in the reserve grade fixture.
And the first grade clash will see the Bombala Blue Heelers go up against the Merimbula-Pambula Bulldogs with the winners to advance into the grand final the following week after the Bombala first grade team were defeated by the Cooma Stallions 28 to 20.
The Bombala first grade lads head down to Moruya on Sunday to play the Bulldogs in a do-or-die finals game.