Grand finalists locked, watch incredible last-minute field goal: Illawarra Cup preliminary finals wrap and photo gallery
Check out who booked a grand final ticket in the Illawarra Cup and watch the incredible last-minute field goal from a lock forward that sealed victory in reserve grade. 40+ PHOTO GALLERY AND WRAP.
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The grand finalists for this year’s Illawarra Cup are locked in after an enthralling preliminary final between the minor premiers De La Salle and the surprise package the Thirroul Butchers.
Meanwhile, the most dramatic of conclusion in the 1st Division secured a historic grand final berth for one side.
Check out the full wrap of the preliminary finals and scroll on to see the 40+ photos taken at the grounds over the weekend.
Thirroul Butchers carve up De La Salle to march on to grand final
The Thirroul Butchers have booked their ticket to the Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup grand final with a commanding 26-16 win over minor premiers De La Salle in the preliminary final.
Despite a few late tries making the scoreline look more respectable, it was a terrific overall performance from the Butchers to send them to their first grand final since 2018.
De La simply weren’t able to match the early aggression of the Butchers, with a penalty conceded in the first set of the game a sign of things to come.
The Butchers opened the scoring thanks to some solo brilliance from second rower Harry Leddy, charging down a De La kick and regaining the footy to come within inches of scoring, but ultimately allowing Jye Patterson to charge in off the next play.
The left side attack of the Butchers was proving difficult to contain, as they would follow up the opener with another break led down the left through fullback Wayne Bremner, who managed to grubber infield for his winger Jye Patterson to regain and score his second.
It was turning out to be a day out for the Butchers and a performance of a lifetime for Harry Leddy, setting up his side’s third try by breaking through three attempted tackles through the middle of the park before brilliantly chip kicking the defence for Wayne Bremner to regain and score for the home side.
This brilliance epitomised to game plan that Thirroul went into the match with, pleasing head coach Jarrod Costello.
“We wanted to start well, which we did with the opening tries,” Costello said.
“We went in with the focus on completions and disciplines, which I think we did really well, we were completing at around 80%.
“I thought that first half overall was very good all things considered.”
De La managed to pinch one try back a few minutes before the break through big front rower Wesley Lolo charging on to a flat ball near the line, with Thirroul’s Wayne Bremner coming out of the tackle attempt second best.
This would turn out to be one of the major talking points of the game, as Bremner would only last a couple of minutes in the second half before coming off in a limp, visibly distraught to have picked up an injury a week out from the grand final.
“We don’t have an update on him yet, he’s getting some scans today,” Costello said.
“We’ll give him every chance to play, he deserves to be there, but we’ll make the decision together later in the week.”
Despite the loss of their fullback, the Butchers kept the tries coming in the second half through some Steven Marsters brilliance, weaving his way back in field before sending his centre partner Cooper Bowen through a hole untouched to score.
Halfback Tarje Whitford would seemingly put the game to bed shortly after, capitalising on a dropped ball from De La Salle off one of his own kicks and scoring down the right off the next play.
De La looked to mount a late comeback to keep their season alive, with Jaz Flavell taking matters into his own hands to muscle his way through some sloppy defence and charge over the line.
Cain Barnes would follow this up late in the game as De La turned defence into attack, with Tre Fotu releasing his rapid winger to run 95m and score under the sticks.
“Letting them back into the game was disappointing, we’ll have to sort that out for Saturday,” Costello said.
Overall though it was too little to late for De La Salle, who exit the competition after a terrific showing in 2023, while the Butchers march on to the big dance this Saturday against Collegians.
Magical last minute field goal sends Corrimal to grand final
Corrimal Cougars ended one streak in the Illawarra Cup this year when they picked up their first win in 777 days.
Now they’re looking to end an even bigger streak, as they marched on to the First Division grand final and look for their first premiership in the grade in 40 years. They did it in the most dramatic of circumstances as well.
The Cougars got out to an early two try leads thanks to efforts from Clement Nicosia and Charlie Jeffries.
Collegians would show some good fight though to get back in the game, first through fullback James Andraos, before the fullback set up his winger Fletcher Winning for their second and lock the game up at 12-12.
Come the last play of the game, the footy ended in the hands of Corrimal lock forward and captain Josh McConnell, who can be voted for as one of the top reserve grade players in NSW, slotting a picture-perfect field goal from 35m out to win the match 13-12 to the Cougars and send the green and red army into delirium.
A truly magical moment from the Cougars who now face Western Suburbs in their first grand final in 34 years.
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