Courtesy of the Warwick Daily News' Gerard Walsh and John Towells
Killarney Cutters halfback Coedie Tandy won player of the match award as the Killarney Cutters won back-to-back premierships with a 30–14 victory against Tenterfield at Tenterfield in the Border Rugby League.
As was the case in last year’s grand final, Killarney started well and led 12–0 after 15 minutes.
Tenterfield fought back to trail 12–8 at the break and then took the lead in the second minute of the second half with a try to fullback Jesse Murphy and conversion by five-eighth and captain-coach Brendan Minns.
Cutters captain-coach John Trindall put his side in front with a try in the 52nd minute. Tenterfield had five successive sets close to the Killarney line but couldn’t regain the lead before Peter Giffin powered over in the 68th minute to give the Cutters some breathing space.
Josh Klein put the result totally beyond doubt with a late Cutters try.
Dion Galloway landed five goals from five attempts, including two from out wide.
Trindall said he knew his side could do it.
“IT was unreal to have Mick Bloomfield back after nine weeks. he was my secret weapon and it worked,” Trindall said.
“Jye Cooper made his minutes count off the bench in his first grand final.”
Minns rued his side’s poor start to the game and some crucial mistakes.
“I said to the boys after the game that because we didn’t win doesn’t mean we didn’t have a good season,” he said.
“Perhaps you have to lose one to win one.”
He rated Tandy, Dion Galloway and John Trindall as three of the Cutters players who worried his team.
“Part of our game plan was to keep John quiet and we didn’t do too bad but he become more dominant near the end,” Minns said.
Minns rated lock Jim Loneragan and centre Matthew Krahe as two of his best.
Tigers ladies victory
TENTERFIELD beat Texas 20–14 in the ladies league tag final.
