Leading into the opening week of the Westfund Ferguson Cup finals was one side almost-unanimously considered the booming competition's dark horse thanks to their consistent improvement throughout the season - Forbes.
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Narromine snatched that tag in Saturday's elimination final at Molong's Dr Ross Memorial Recreation Ground though, ending the plucky Platypi's season with a 24-14 win in the sixth-versus-seventh play-off.
In a battle of the competition's first-year teams the Gorillas, buoyed by a 11-5 penalty count in their favour, came from behind twice before sealing the win with back-to-back tries in the dying stages of the fourth and final quarter.
They were tough, gee they were tough.
- Narromine's Bec Smyth
They came through former Wallaroo Bec Smyth and Lakeisha Hull, in the 35th and 39th minutes respectively.
With Forbes leading 14-12 and just five minutes remaining on the clock Smyth barged her way over to edge the Gorillas in front by three points, Alice Theberge's successful conversion extending that lead to five at 19-14.
Despite the Platypi's best efforts to hit back they couldn't, and Hull found space on the left edge in the dying stages to secure the win, the full-time whistle sparking raucous celebrations from the Gorillas.
"They were tough, gee they were tough," Smyth said of the Platypi.
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"Forbes really did play so well then and they made us work really hard for that win. We've been doing quite a bit of work on our fitness and that might have had an impact late in that game but we've done a lot with our structures and strategy in the last few weeks as well, and I think that showed.
"We retained the ball really well and it paid off for us in the end. I'm just really happy for all the girls because they really wanted it, most of them are first-year players and the improvement has just been incredible so to win through our first final, we're stoked.
"I know Forbes are in the same situation being a first-year side so it is a shame for them but they played so well, and they had a great year, they should be very proud too."
Whether intentional or not Smyth actually had an intriguing battle with Forbes' gun LillyAnn Mason-Spice, who won player-of-the-tournament in Central West's country championship win earlier this year.
Undoubtedly the two sides' big names, the pair went toe-to-toe on a number of occasions and neither was willing to give an inch, while Smyth scored her side's go-ahead try Mason-Spice scored both of Forbes' five-pointers.
The former Wallaroo mentioned how well Mason-Spice had played after the contest too, before saying how much she's enjoyed returning to the field after a couple of years off.
"I had zero intention of playing rugby this year, but of course I've come back," she laughed.
"It's been really great and I've really enjoyed it and who knows what could come of it. I think we'll take a lot of momentum from that win and confidence too.
"We haven't seen a couple of the other (remaining) sides but who knows, I'd just love it if we could go all the way but we've already done so well."
In Saturday's other elimination final CSU Bathurst made light work of Mudgee, running rampant in a 12-tries-to-two, 72-12 shellacking.
Mudgee were gallant in defeat but simply outclassed, with Nicole Kennedy running four tries for the students while Ash Bridge also scored a hat-trick.
Narromine and CSU Bathurst now progress to the semi-finals next weekend, where they'll face the two defeated sides from Saturday's qualifying finals.
- CSU BATHURST 72 (Nicole Kennedy 4, Ash Bridge 3, Jacinta Cooper 2, Emily Carroll, Minna Annand, Riley Cooper tries; Bridie Gordon 4, Bridge 2 conversions) def MUDGEE WOMBATS 12 (Charlie Beasley, Georgia Ward tries; Chantel Burgess conversion)
- NARROMINE GORILLAS 24 (Lakeisha Hull, Alice Theberge, Beth Stace, Bec Smyth tries; Theberge 2 conversions) def FORBES PLATYPI 14 (LillyAnn Mason-Spice 2 tries; Meaghan Kempson 2 conversions)
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