WERRIS Creek Magpies won their first second-grade premiership in 40 years when they held off Dungowan Cowboys to win 24-20 at Boughton Oval on Saturday.

The Creek had last won a second-grade title in 1986, club president Darby Sherlock confirmed with club legend Ron Dellar.

It didn’t start well for the Magpies though, with Dungowan centre Braydon Johnson scoring in the third minute.

Bailey Wilson scored Werris Creek’s first try six minutes later before Dustin Prince took a brilliant bomb to score out wide for Werris Creek.

Tyler Swift also caught another bomb in the 31st minute to put Jarrod Tickle over in the corner and set a 14-4 half-time lead.

Braydon Johnson’s second try clawed the Cowboys back to 14-8.

A penalty for a high tackle on Jesse Porter gave the Maggies a two-point penalty before Moses Sovatabua crossed in the corner for a 20-8 lead.

Dungowan fought back again, and after Evan Coombes crashed over in the 19th minute Malaki Johnson scored to even it up in the 22nd minute of the second half.

Pat Strong almost gave Dungowan the lead when he was tackled into touch in-goal but it was another winger who stole the show.

Werris Creek’s Sam Tickle sprinted down the eastern touchline to break the deadlock and what was the winning play.

Werris Creek Magpies reserve-grade won their first premiership in 40 years when beating Dungowan Cowboys 24-20 at Boughton Oval (Image Copyright).

Tickle also received the player-of-the-grand-final as well.

“He deserved it,” Werris Creek coach Jason Smith said.

“He earned it. They call him the axe. He might get bashed up a lot with his runs but he didn’t feel any pain when he scored that try. It was his day.”

Smith said his side knew it was going to be hot “so we picked a smaller mobile side. Took the gamble and it paid off”.

While Tickle was a stand-out, so too was hooker Jezz West and five-eighth Dave Murnane, who replaced the injured Dylan Smith.

“Dave stepped up and took some tough runs and relieved the pressure,” Smith said.

“Jezz and Parker Constable come up out of our 18s from last year too. They won last year and both played well today.”

Dungowan coach Corey Ridley couldn’t believe his bad luck.

“That’s our third grand-final loss in a row. Lost two to Moree and now Werris Creek,” Ridley said.

“The boys did well though, to come back like they did.

“Full credit to Werris Creek, they came here to play.”

He thought his side was “massive” but their deficit “was a little too much” to come back.

“He praised his team “across the park” for their effort.

Prop James Vaughan provided some big hulking runs to put the side on the front foot but the injury to Brad Brooks early on was a blow.

Brooks, despite the injury, played on in a valiant effort. Evan Coombes, Nathan Hamlin, Malaki Johnson and try-scoring centre Braydon Johnson were other stand-outs for the gallant Cowboys.

WERRIS CREEK  24 (Bailey Wilson, Dustin Prince, Jarrod Tickle, Moses Sovatabua, Sam Tickle tries, Karwin Knox 2gls) d DUNGOWAN 20 (Braydon Johnson 2, Evan Coombes, Malaki Johnson tries, Steven Donovan 2gls). Player of the Grand Final: Sam Tickle.

Words: Geoff Newling

Image: Bill Poulos