The Jindabyne Bushpigs were dealt a get out a jail free card as they clawed their way back from near defeat to advance to next week's grand final with a thrilling victory over ADFA.
It looked for all money that the home side, who were undefeated during the season were about to bow out of the competition before a remarkable comeback and sideline conversion saved their season.
After a great try in the corner to replacement winger Ethan Cawthorn in the 75th minute, fullback Matt Caldwell stepped up to level the scores with a kick from the sideline. Having missed an easier penalty kick earlier, all eyes were glued on Caldwell who slotted the perfect kick much to the delight of the vociferous home crowd.
The game then went into five minutes each way overtime, where once again Caldwell and Cawthorn continued their hero roles, Caldwell scoring a penalty goal and Cawthorn two more tries.
The Bushpigs escaped to win 47-34 and book a home game grand final and a chance to win back-to-back South Coast Monaro 2nd Division titles. It will be the clubs first home grand final in 10 years.
“Very nervous, I’m still shaking from it so I’m glad I nailed it,” said Matt Caldwell after the game describing the important conversion. “It was massive kudos to the boys they just dug in and real gritty, the crowd got us there just cheering us on to finish it off too. Very happy and very proud of the boys.”
Ethan Cawthorn played down his role and praised the team. But it’s hard to deny his impact scoring three crucial tries in 12 minutes.
“I think it’s a team effort, everyone was involved in that. I was just in the right spot and the right time, the boys were there, they provided me with the opportunity to score. It was a full team effort,” said Ethan Cawthorn.
“I got two good ones off just support play, the first one was off Pecker (Matt Caldwell), the second was off Roarty (Jake) I believe, and then the third in the corner was off a Roarty kick. I didn’t think I was going to get but got the right bounce in the end.”
Coach Mick Needham said, “ADFA really gave it to us today, so credit to them. Probably in extra time we played how we were meant to play the whole game. We were lucky Matty Caldwell got that kick at the end to tie it up. We will go from there, grand final time.”
During the first half the Bushpigs had set up what seemed to be a comfortable lead, at one point leading 27-15. But ADFA had other thoughts sand continued their fight back.
After scoring in the corner and missing the conversion, ADFA were allowed a second attempt at the kick after the referee red carded a Jindabyne spectator on the far touch line. She had encroached inside the roped area and obviously offered a stern opinion to the kicker. It could have been costly for the home side, but the second kick also missed.
Tries went to captain Dylan Johnson, Finn Chatten, Brock Freeburn, Matthew Norman, and Ethan Cawthorn (3). Matt Caldwell converted three tries and two penalty goals.
The Bushpigs won the title in their 30th year in 2013, and now will attempt to win another title in their 40th year anniversary.
It will be a huge game next Saturday at JJ Connors Oval in Jindabyne and the club will be looking for a big crowd to cheer them on for the first home grand final in 10 years.
The club want "to see the town dowsed in green and black support our Bushpigs this week".
You can follow the the Bushpigs social media page for all the latest details.
2.30pm Grand Final Kickoff
