By Casey O'Connor
After 80 minutes of nail-biting football last weekend at Fr Ranger Oval the Cowboys could do nothing but watch as Goondiwindi’s Glenn McGrady lined up a penalty kick from halfway to boot the Boars home 20-18 as the full-time siren sounded.
After leading throughout the game, the Cowboy’s faithful watched in almost disbelief as an 18-16 lead evaporate on the back of two Cowboy’s errors.
It was a riveting game that swung from end to end as both teams traded tries like a couple of fighters punching and counter punching.
With experienced players Ben Sullivan and Craig Donn sidelined, the Cowboys could ill afford the loss of their inspirational captain Mick Bloomfield in just the fifth minute of the game.
Brock Patti who had played a full game in Under 18’s came off the bench and played a great game.
Mitch Wilson was again in the thick if the try scoring and had the Cowboys in the board in the first 10 minutes.
Matt Marshall added the extras and the Cowboys led 6-0.
It did not take long before Boar’s fullback David Armstrong who has had a great season, put the visitors on the board and with a successful kick from Glenn McGrady the scores were locked at six all after 15 minutes.
Wilson returned serve minutes later and another successful kick from Marshall had the Cowboy’s back in front 12-6.
Armstrong made it a double when he scored in the 27th minute.
The conversion was unsuccessful, and the margin was 12-10.
Rarely has there been a Cowboy’s game this season where centre Joe Fuimaono has not scored a try, so it was no surprise when he crossed minutes from half time.
Marshall kicked his third and at half time the Cowboy’s were more than up for the challenge against the comepitition leaders heading to the break with an 18-10 lead.
When the teams returned spectators knew there was much more to come in this game.
Glenn McGrady scored and converted his own try to narrow the margin to two points in the 42nd minute.
The Boars had much more possession in the second half and to the credit of the Cowboy’s they defended tenaciously.
As the game clock wound down Goondiwindi threw everything, they had at the Cowboy’s, but they still could not get across their line.
With two minutes remaining the Cowboy’s conceded a penalty in front of the posts.
Glenn McGrady was never going to miss, and the scores were locked at 18 all with just enough time for one or two more plays.
Unbelievably the kick to restart the game sailed over the sideline on the full and Goondiwindi had the chance to take a penalty from the halfway line.
McGrady never hesitated.
He stepped up to the kicking tee and sunk the hopes of at least one point for the Cowboys as the ball sailed through the uprights.
Final score 20-18 in a thriller.
The win seals the minor premiership for Goondiwindi who have been the benchmark team all season and places Warwick in fifth on the ladder stuck on 22 points with Highfields and Valleys trailing Goondiwindi on 27 and Wattles on 24.
Coach Matt Grew although disappointed said post game he was proud of the 17 blokes on the field who tried their guts out against the benchmark side.
Grew lamented that no matter how well prepared you and the team are you cannot prepare for the loss of your skipper at the beginning of the game but conceded his team had their chance to win the game.
Goondiwindi 20 (David Armstrong 2, Glen McGrady tries Glen McGrady 4 goals) defeated Warwick 18 (Mitch Wilson 2, Joe Fuimaono tries Matt Marshall 3 goals)
In other games
Warwick 30 defeated Goondiwindi 24 in Reserve Grade.
Warwick also won the Under 18’s 44-8 and in the Ladies had a 42-4 win over Brothers.
And so, we roll on to the final game of the season – the local derby between Cowboy’s and Wattles.
Wattles are coming off a huge win over Newtown last round and have certainly lifted their game at the back end of the season.
The two teams last met in round six and it was honours to Wattles. If you can use Goondiwindi as the benchmark this should be a ripper game.
Early indications are looking hopeful that Cowboy’s captain Mick Bloomfield will take his place if his injuries continue to respond to physio.
