THE Roosters made it a decisive three from three in the Group 16 qualifying final on Sunday.
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The host club rallied to a golden point win in the first grade 19-18 over the Eden Tigers in extra time.
The club also won the reserves 8-4 and the women’s contest 16-6.
In the first grade, a quick field-goal kick won the game, but a hard-fought slog through the ruck won the battle.
Joe Aldridge is the first grade Roosters’ very own metre machine.
The big front-rower was a dominant force in gaining ground for the Roosters on Sunday.
A number of hard-hitting runs saw Aldridge attract plenty of praise from captain-coach Ryan Apps.
“He has done brilliantly well this year and it took four defenders to bring him down,” Apps said.
“After coming in from Tathra he has had a big year and he’s starting to make a huge impact.”
Apps was injured early in the first half and called on his fellow forwards to step up.
“I’ve got four forwards on the bench and wasn’t going to risk the extra injury [to go back on],” he said.
“So I basically said to the boys you’re on your own,” he said with a laugh.
Aldridge was quick to answer the call, as was Todd Ingram, who boasted a phenomenal second half showing.
“Todd was great in the second half and really got some forward motion for us and AB [Adam Blacka] also had an outstanding game,” Apps said.
Mitch Carter, Clay Childs and Hayden Parbery all put in solid showings with some good runs.
The outcome was anyone’s guess for a time as the two sides are evenly matched.
Both squads feature fast-running wingers and some clever backline players.
At the half-time break, Bega led by just a 6-0 margin off a Blake Robinson try.
The tension level reached new heights as the scores locked at 18-18 with the clock winding down.
Apps, who was forced to watch from the sidelines, said he had faith in his team to get the job done.
The Bega halves combination of Blake Robinson and James Bower-Scott proved pivotal as the game went to extra time.
Apps said that it was up to his trusted kicker to shoot for a field goal, twice.
With the score locked at 18-all Robinson took the shot at a field goal, but the Roosters were penalised.
The clock wound down and forced the game into extra time.
When the Roosters got in range a few minutes later everyone knew who to watch.
The successful kick put Bega ahead to win the game.
“Robbo is excellent, he gets in and does all the little things some people don’t want to,” Apps said.
He was pleased with the turnaround from last week’s loss, but said there were still a few “little things” he wanted to work on.
The Roosters will now go to the preliminary final against the Moruya Sharks.
The Bega squad will be quietly confident with an exceptional track record against the Sharks.
Apps said the Roosters had defeated them last year in the grand final and upset the Sharks in the major semi-final.
The Roosters have also handed the Sharks their two losses in the regular season this year.
“You can feel it around the club, the boys will come prepared to take them on,” he said.
“But we’ve got to be mentally switched on and toughen up in the ruck.”
The middle is where the match will be won or lost.
“I think our pack has got to be where it starts and lock and second rowers - they play a big part in laying the foundation,” Apps said.
The Bega club is well aware of the impact from Moruya’s Mick Weyman, while the Sharks are still wthout the services of captain Tim Weyman.
Apps also expects the centres Brenton Blair and Blacka to work extensively in the ruck when the Roosters meet the Sharks.