Duggan keeps cool in extra-time kick
TRL: The experience of Matt Duggan proved invaluable as he kicked a penalty goal in golden point extra-time of Wattles’ TRL elimination semi-final win over Highfields on Saturday night.
Highfields forced the game into extra-time with a try from front-rower Nathan Smith in the 80th minute and the conversion from Jarrod Lee making the score 18-18 at full-time.
Wattles then got a penalty 20m out from the Highfields line in front of the posts in the fourth minute of golden point extra-time allowing Duggan to step up and slot the telling goal to give the Warriors a 20-18 victory.
Wattles coach Gary Lawrence thought spectators witnessed a great game but lamented some decision making from his team.
He hopes that will improve in their next sudden-death semi-final next weekend.
Lawrence also paid tribute to the defensive work of his team, and the contribution of hooker Liam Ross.
“Our defence was good and I think that was the key to us winning,” Lawrence said.
It took until the 30th minute for either team to score when Conor Nolan put Highfields up with a try in the 31st minute.
Wattles hit back with a try to Tyrone Jowett five minutes later and it looked like the score would be 6-6 at half-time.
But Lee had a penalty shot for goal after the half-time siren, missed it before fullback Blake Appo came up with an impressive one-on-one strip on the Wattles player that caught the ball to score a try.
That gave Highfields a 12-6 advantage at the break.
Two converted tries after the break put Wattles up 18-12 and they held that lead into the final minute before Smith’s try pushed the game into extra-time.
Highfields coach Justin McKellar was shattered his team’s season ended after a penalty goal in golden point extra-time.
“It’s very disappointing,” he said. “I can’t fault them. They really dug deep tonight. We had to do a mountain of defence.”