Rebels tight game curse continues
By Tim Howard
The South Grafton Rebels miserable season of close losses continued until the end with the Rebel’s final game of the season a bizarre 18-12 loss to Woolgoolga at McKittrick Park on Saturday.
The Rebels conceded two of the softest tries imaginable in the first half as well as a well executed backline movement that enabled winger Kade Levingston to run around under the posts to secure 18 points in the first 25 minutes of the game.
Rebels hard working lock Richard Roberts scored for the Rebels with a dummy half effort in the 23rd minute 12-6.
Woolgoolga can thank its tough defence and Lady Luck for the two competition points.
Time after time the Sea Horse shut down Rebels scoring opportunities, twice bundling players into touch as they headed for the corner post.
Several dangerous kicks into the in-goal also bounced favourably for defenders and twice more the Rebels were unable to ground the ball as they plunged over the try line.
But the Rebels were also culprits in letting Woolgoolga off the hook, with poor passing options, dropped ball and poor discipline keeping the visitors in front.
The start could have been worse for the Rebels.
After cleaning up a high kick from the Sea Horses in the first two minutes of the game fullback Keiron Johnson-Heron lost the ball in a tackle just a metre from the line.
The ball spilled from his arms and bounced up for Woolgoolga halfback Tyler Murden to grab and fall over the line just a couple of metres to the right of the posts.
Nine minutes later the Sea Horses were in again, this time with the try of the game when classy fullback Dane O’Hehir chimed into the backline and put Levingstone away down the right wing.
The speedster skirted the Rebels cover and ran around under the sticks for the touchdown.
At 12-nil up, Woolgoolga looked ready to dominate, but instead the Rebels were able to grind their way back intro the game.
They repulsed several Woolgoolga attacks, including one shaky moment when winger William Sullivan dropped a towering bomb a metre out from his line.
Capitalising on some Woolgoolga errors, the Rebels camped in the Woolgoolga red zone and were eventually reward.
Richard Roberts looked to have scored and claimed a try when he plunged over from short range, but the referee ruled he was held up.
Not to be denied, two tackles later he picked up the ball from dummy half and crashed over for the Rebels first try.
McGrady converted and at 12-6 it was game on.
Buy a few minutes later the Rebels shakiness under the high ball gifted Woolgoolga’s dangerous centre Shayde Perham the decisive score of the game.
Young winger Sam Petch leapt to catch a high kick about 20m from his line, but the ball bounced free in front of Perham giving him a straight run to the line.
In the final minutes of the half the Rebels had at least four scoring chances, but could not turn one into points.
The defence was able to ground a dangerous Hughie Stanley kick into the in-goal and centre Jye Boehme leapt to catch a kick into the corner, but was bundled into touch a metre out, prop Grant Stevens looked set to score from a set play near the line, but the last pass from hooker Todd Cameron went forward and Boehme was tackled into touch a metre out just before the half ended.
During the onslaught the referee also sin-binned Woolgoolga prop Jake Elphick for petulantly ripping the ball from a player’s hands after a tackle.
The Rebels onslaught continued in the second half as they tried to take advantage of their one-man advantage.
O’Hehir cleaned up a dangerous kick ahead from halfback Nick McGrady, a couple of minutes later the Rebels knocked on over line, Johnson Heron nearly scored out wide, but won a penalty for a high tackle and McGrady knocked on a metre out.
Finally in the 29th minute the Woolgoolga defence cracked and Tyler Roberts raced over to score under the post.
At 18-12 the scoreline set the scene for a frantic final 10 minutes.
Time and again the Rebels surged at the Woolgoolga defence which refused to crack.
Again discipline let them down and Boehme was placed on report for a heavy dumping tackle which upended a Woolgoolga ball runner.
It was a game which the Rebels would say they let get away, but a win the Woolgoolga team would put down to rugged defence.
The Rebels had the edge in possession and looked on top for long periods, but their inability to turn that into points cost them in the end.
The Rebels will get two points for the bye next week, but it will be unlikely to save them from the wooden spoon.
It will cap a disappointing season for last season’s grand finalists and 2022 premiers.
Despite only winning three games for the season, they have lost six games by six points or less.
A bizarre draw which game them only one home game in the first half of the season and some administrative issues behind the scenes contributed to some turmoil at the club may have affected performances on the field.
In Coffs Harbour the Grafton Ghosts kept their drive for a semi-final spot alive downing danger team Coffs Harbour 20-16
The Ghosts scored four tries to three with their backline scoring all the points for the game.
Competition leaders Nambucca slumped to another defeat in a worrying loss of momentum for the club.
The Roosters can’t be beaten for the minor premiership, but a 26-16 loss to the Sawtell Panthers is the second loss in a row for a team that was unbeaten three weeks ago.
The Ghosts, sitting in fourth spot, a point ahead of Macksville, have a tough ask on Sunday, hosting the Sea Horses at Frank McGuren Field.
The Ghosts should know whats needed from them as the decisive game between Macksville and the Panthers will be played on Saturday, determining who takes third spot.
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