ALTONA Roosters pulled off a miracle come-from-behind 24-20 win over Craigieburn Phoenix in the Victorian Rugby League first grade at Loft Reserve on Sunday.
The Roosters were gone for all money, trailing by 16 points with 10 minutes remaining. They had failed to have any control of their forward thrusts in the wet conditions, dropping the ball time and again in a raft of incomplete sets.
Roosters president Brandon Taunoa said even he had given up hope when the clock neared the 70th minute with the visiting Phoenix up 20-4.
The Roosters scored a try, then another, and it was suddenly game. More so with
the huge boost of a third try, scored by Henry Sang-Yum.
Player-coach Mike Hurinui produced a stunning conversion near the sideline to cut the deficit to two points.
“The character of the boys was really good,” Taunoa said. “They stayed positive, they dug deep and got the result.”
Hurinui played his part with three conversions in the final 10 and
co-coach Jason Warr scored the match-winning try, catching
the Phoenix defence flat-footed.
Brad Potae had a big say in turning the tide of the game. The lock forward was an enforcer, creating many errors with his fearless defensive work.
The win puts the Roosters back in the top four on equal points with the Phoenix. The Roosters, in equal fourth spot, meet third-placed Waverley-Oakleigh Panthers in a cracker at home on Sunday.
– Lance Jenkinson
