By Ron Wood

In an extraordinary finale to a busy weekend in Tamworth the Illawarriors have fallen agonisingly short in their quest for the Caldwell Cup. In a match described by many as the best Caldwell Cup Final in years the Illawarriors went down to Central Coast in the last seconds 46–43. 

Such a scoreline would suggest that there was not a lot of defensive quality in a game in which each side scored six tries. In fact, all the tries were well earned and executed with the defensive effort of both sides very much up to the task at this level. 

The Coasties were well led by Fly-Half Adam Dancket, who guided the side around the park in expert fashion and produced two crucial penalty goals in the final minutes of the match to snatch the title from the grasp of a gallant Illawarriors side. 

The Illawarriors burst out of the blocks early and asked plenty of question of the Central Coast defensive line. After a frantic first 12 minutes of play the Illawarriors settled for a 3–0 lead through a Tom Baker penalty goal to get the scoreboard ticking. 

The frantic pace of the match continued and it was the Coasties who got the first five pointers of the match with two well-constructed team tries. With Dancket converting one they led 12–3 after 22 minutes. 

In a sparkling five-minute period, Halfback Tom Baker scored twice and converted both for the Illawarriors to take control of the scoreboard. In his first effort he took advantage of some great work by Flanker Tom Cusack close to the line, bumping off two defenders to score. For the second it was Centre Eli Sinoti who did the in close bullocking work to give Baker a clear run to the line from 10m out. Baker converted both tries putting the Illawarriors in front 17–12 after 30 minutes of play. 

The Illawarriors increased the lead right on half time when Winger Nico Cowley added to his weekend try tally with a clever individual effort. Illawarra received a penalty 20m out and Cowley promptly took the quick tap and caught the Coast defence napping racing 20m to score in the corner. Tom Baker, despite the raucous encouragement of the Coasties supporters behind him kicked a beautiful two pointer from the touch line to give the Illawarriors a halftime advantage of 24–12. 

It was the Coasties who came out after the break full of running, asking plenty of questions of the Illawarra defence but couldn’t get the break. Illawarra's Norwin Latu, who had switched from Fullback to the right wing at the break, took another sweet intercept on halfway to sprint away for the Illawarriors fourth try of the match, converted by replacement Fullback Ryan Schoupp for a 31–12 scoreline. 

The Coasties were not done at this point and responded with another two well executed team tries, converted by Dancket to reduce the deficit to five at 31–26 and it was definitely a case of game on with still 30 minutes to play. 

The Coasties had shown tremendous spirit to get back in the game and it was clear that we were in for an enthralling finish much to the delight of the noisy crowd supporting their teams with gusto. 

The Illawarriors mounted a sustained attack on the Central Coast line with Illawarra winger Bailie Leonard eventually taking advantage of a long cut-out pass to cross in the corner. For a couple of agonising seconds, the Referee referred to the Assistant Referee before awarding the try to Leonard. With the conversion waved away the Illawarriors lead was now 36–26.

Once again, the Coasties raised an effort and with the number of interchanges running low for Illawarra a huge defensive effort was required as the Coasties roared home. Two more tries came to Central Coast and with both converted by Dancket the Coasties hit the front 40–36 with less than 15 minutes left.  

With seven on the clock, Illawarra stalwart Eli Sinoti stood up to finish of a backline raid and score wide on the right. With Ryan Schoupp cooly converting the try the score now favoured the Illawarriors 43–40 with just six nail-biting minutes on the clock. 

With both sets of players calling on all their remaining energy, the match was far from done as the attacking play continued from both sides but the defensive effort of both won out. With three minutes left Dancket kicked a penalty goal and everyone at the ground were preparing themselves for extra time with the score all tied up at 43 – 43. 

At the horror of all from the South, with the time clock showing 0.00, a penalty was awarded to the Coasties about 40m out in centre field.  Dancket stepped up and broke the deadlock with a perfect kick,m sparking wild celebrations for the Coasties and utter despair for the Illawarriors.

The Caldwell Cup victory was the Coasts second in three years after going down heavily to Central West last year. The performance of this young Illawarra side had plenty of merit and will stand this group in good stead for the years ahead.  2024 was the third year of a three-year plan for Coach Sean Barrett to bring home the Cup so, with such an agonisingly close end to this year’s program, it looks like he may perhaps have to go around again. Steve Talbet as Sean's assistant was a valuable addition to the program. 

The performance of three Illawarra players across the weekend in particular is worthy of special mention. Captain George Miller was outstanding both as a player and a leader across the three games. Centre pairing Eli Sinoti and Frank Prodger were consistently strong in both attack and defence showing all their experience at this level. Tom Bakers performance at Halfback was simply surreal as he defied his recent injury problems to show all his class and talent contributing 19 points in the Final. Youngsters Tom Cusack, Angus Clark and Reuben Thomas stood up to be counted throughout, with Alex Crotti catching everyone’s eye in a strong debut for Illawarra. Up front Tim Lilomaivia and Simiki Lufe stood tall all weekend.

A special mention for two players who finished the weekend with significant injuries. Mick Taylor suffered a fractured eye socket which thankfully doesn’t appear to be too serious, while Tom Cusack picked up a PCL injury in his knee, which made the trip home on the bus somewhat uncomfortable.

Caldwell Cup Final – Central Coast 46 Def Illawarra 43 (Nico Cowley 1 try, Norwin Latu 1 try, Bailie Leonard 1 try, Eli Sinoti 1 try, Tom Baker 2 tries, 3 goals, 1 penalty goal, Ryan Schoupp 2 goals).    

In the women’s final game, the girls went down to Central Coast also 9 – 0, in the Women’s Plate final. The Colts had two loses on Sunday but finished their last game with a good performance in the second half against New England 10 – 24, after earlier in the day going down to Central West 17 – 0.