28-24: it's the kind of score line that suggests a finals classic, but for coach Dan Barclay and his Canowindra Tigers side, they weren't on the side of the ledger they needed to be on in Saturday's Woodbridge Cup semi-finals.
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Despite hosting the game at Tom Clyburn Oval, the Tigers couldn't quite hold out a hungry Grenfell Goannas outfit, who edged their fourth-placed opponents to take a narrow four point win.
"It was a tight physical game, as it has been both times we've played this year," Barclay said.
"The bounce of the ball and capitalising on opportunities was what decided the game."
He also believed that Grenfell's momentum in the match came off the back of their forwards.
"We had some periods in the game where we weren't dominating tackles and they got a roll on but their forwards really led the way [and] they really drove them home," Barclay said.
Despite the result, the coach was particularly impressed with the efforts of five-eighth Steve Tahere.
"[He] had the best game of the year for him, his kicking game was sensational executing the game plan," the coach said, also noting the contributions Harry Whatman, Shannon Lee and Frazer Ryder.
The coach, who was formerly involved in Grenfell himself, said he was proud of the season and what his relatively new-look line up made of it, including an unbeaten run of six matches leading into this weekend's finals appearance.
"[I'm] very proud of the boys and what we've achieved this year... We started the season winning the Woodbridge Cup Tens [and] they've grown ever since," Barclay noted.
He added that a shift to "eyes-up and momentum based footy" as well as a focus on game plans based around the opposition rather than pre-choreographed moves were among the significant changes that his playing implemented successfully throughout the year.
"I think they developed that really well," he commented, adding that the development of the likes of Ryder, Lindsay Thurgate and Nathan Whatman was also positive.
While Barclay was positive for what his side achieved throughout the year, thanking the club, its committee, sponsors, supporters and volunteers for their help, while also wishing the other teams left in the finals the best of luck, he also was keen to get stuck into next year: the club's 100th season.
"I would aim to maintain the squad and continue to build; hopefully the addition of a few local boys coming back and returning will give us a bit of a boost," he said.
"But it's about sticking together and growing as a club and as team... It'd be great to see a lot of local Canowindra fellas and girls come back to play."
- GRENFELL GOANNAS 28 (Wayne Holten, Mick Millar, Stephen Ingram, Ricky Whitton, Dean Coldicott tries; Mitch Stevens 4 goals) def CANOWINDRA TIGERS 24 (Brydon Hughes, Semisi Tupou, Dean Murray, Tatafu Na'aniumotu tries; Frazer Ryder 2, Rob Burn 2 goals)
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