In one of the most dramatic finishes to a game in recent memory, the Central Newcastle Butcher Boys kept its play-off hopes alive while breaking the hearts of the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs at the weekend.
On a day when Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League (Real NRL) honoured the victims of the Greta bus tragedy, the two combatants produced a riveting showdown at the Kurri Kurri Sports Ground on Saturday 17 June, which wasn’t decided until after the full-time siren.
In the end, Central Newcastle five-eighth Steven Dengate landed the sideline conversion in the 81st minute to claim a remarkable 34-32 triumph.
That was after Butcher Boys centre Gregory Morris Davis received his marching orders from the referee, while Bulldogs pair Ben McIntyre and Tully Wholert were sent packing, too, leaving 11 men against 10 following the earlier dismissals of Kain Anderson and Jack Tamburrini.
No matter how you look at the conclusion, it was a crushing blow to Kurri Kurri, who thoroughly deserved to leave the ground with its first win in 2023.
The hosts fought back from a 16-6 deficit at the break to lead 28-16 with 10 left on the clock.
But, the visitors refused to lay down, stealing victory from the jaws of defeat.
“In hindsight, we probably shouldn’t have put ourselves in that position,” Central Newcastle skipper Cameron Anderson said.
“However, in saying that, the Bulldogs – all credit to them – fought bravely; they came home really strong.
“I’m quite proud of our boys.
“Particularly, how we rallied behind each other and got those 18 points in the end.”
The Butcher Boys, now in seventh, next face The Entrance at home on Sunday 25 June.
“That [Kurri Kurri match] was a good hit-out for the Tigers,” Anderson said.
“Mathematically, we know we’re still in the hunt.
“But, what we spoke about as a playing group, we really need to take it week-by-week, especially with everything happening around us, we can’t control that.
“So, we’ve got to be a better football side, we’ve got to be better at training, and we’ve got to be better all over the park.
“Hopefully, Saturday, was a bit of a wake-up call to the guys that you can’t just turn up with that mentality or you’ll get your pants pulled down, like the Bulldogs nearly did to us.”
Before a ball was kicked in anger, the two clubs, along with local Fire and Rescue NSW first responders, paid their respects with a minute’s silence to those who lost their lives in Sunday’s horrific accident, which shocked the Hunter.
The Real NRL also retired the No 10 jumper from all games in round 12, honouring the ten people who died on that fateful night.
Once the fixture clicked into gear, it was the Bulldogs who opened their account.
Halfback Ben McIntyre stepped inside the defence to score, after a couple of repeated sets. He added the extras for a 6-0 lead.
However, three tries in the space of seven minutes, had them on the backfoot.
Firstly, Central Newcastle spun it wide, with winger Lleyton Rose the beneficiary.
Then, second-rower Ethan Campbell stormed onto a short pass before hooker Joey Morris dived through from dummy half.
Dengate landed two of those conversion to give his team a handy 16-6 advantage at the interval.
The second half, however, was another story.
In the 51st minute, Kurri Kurri fullback Jesse Wighton burrowed over. Even though McIntyre missed the shot at goal, the hosts only trailed 16-10.
Almost immediately, a cut-out pass to an unmarked Craig Richardson brought the crowd to life. McIntyre levelled it up at 16-all.
The Bulldogs weren’t finished yet.
McIntyre kicked over the top and five-eighth Josh Griffiths raced through to touch down. The former then raised the flags and the margin to 22-16.
Three minutes later, hooker Temple-Olympia Kalepo made a break near half-way and found a flying Richardson in support. McIntyre made no mistake, extending the lead to 28-16.
The Butcher Boys responded straight away with Morris Davis diving over. Dengate successfully narrowed the gap to 28-22.
A major turning point occurred soon after when Central Newcastle was awarded a penalty try. The referee deemed Cameron Anderson, following a brilliant run by Lachlan O’Brien, was hit high in the process of scoring.
That incident also triggered a melee, with Kain Anderson and Tamburrini eventually being sin-binned.
With Dengate converting, the encounter was tied up again at 28-all.
Kurri Kurri appeared to have won in the 76th minute when Griffiths pushed off two defenders on a determined run to the line. McIntyre’s shot went astray, the home side ahead 32-28.
But, that wasn’t the final wash-up.
In the dying seconds, with Central Newcastle on the attack, another brawl resulted in the exits of Morris Davis, McIntyre and Wholert.
With one play remaining, the Butcher Boys kept the ball alive with Dengate firing a bullet pass to Randall Briggs, who crossed in the corner. The young gun then soaked up the pressure and booted the match-winner, 34-32.
Also on Saturday, the Wyong Roos accounted for the Lakes United Seagulls 30-18.
The next day, 18 June, the Tigers overcame a gallant Western Suburbs Rosellas 30-25, the South Newcastle Lions continued their impressive season at the expense of the Macquarie Scorpions 40-18, the Maitland Pickers beat the Northern Hawks 52-10 and the Cessnock Goannas had the bye.
Tooheys Newcastle Rugby League
Denton Engineering Cup
Round 12 results:
- Wyong Roos d Lakes United Seagulls 30-18
- Central Newcastle Butcher Boys d Kurri Kurri Bulldogs 34-32
- The Entrance Tigers d Western Suburbs Rosellas 30-25
- South Newcastle Lions d Macquarie Scorpions 40-18
- Maitland Pickers d Northern Hawks 52-10
- Bye: Cessnock Goannas
Round 13 draw:
Saturday 24 June
- 3pm: Kurri Kurri Bulldogs v South Newcastle Lions (Kurri Kurri Sports Ground)
- 3pm: Maitland Pickers v Cessnock Goannas (No 1 Sportsground)
- 3pm: Wyong Roos v Macquarie Scorpions (Morry Breen Oval)
Sunday 25 June
- 3pm: Western Suburbs Rosellas v Lakes United Seagulls (Harker Oval)
- 3pm: Central Newcastle Butcher Boys v The Entrance Tigers (St John Oval)
- Bye: Northern Hawks
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