Casuarina Cougars hold off defending premiers Darwin Dragons to book spot in 2020-21 grand final

COURAGE in defence and early scoreboard pressure saw Casuarina Cougars win 18-13 over Darwin Dragons to book themselves a spot in the 2021 Darwin A-grade Rugby Union Grand Final.

Martin Strachan brought plenty in defence for the Cougars against the Darwin Dragons. Picture: Che Chorley

COURAGE in defence and early scoreboard pressure saw Casuarina Cougars win 18-13 over Darwin Dragons to book themselves a spot in the 2021 Darwin A-grade Rugby Union Grand Final.

The Dragons, eyeing a rare premiership three-peat, had plenty to play for.

But the Cougars, who were the form side late in the season, were looking to muscle their way into the grand-final bout.

A missed pass from the Dragons caused an overlap that Casuarina were all too happy to expose through Simaika Salaa, gathering and passing off to pacy winger Jarvis Nolan for the score.

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A strong scrum and winning lineout saw Cougars escape danger when pinned in their own 22, with Nolan breaking through the Darwin line to turn the momentum.

Flanker Jarrod Northam continued the race downfield and the Cougars were once more on the front foot with Nolan soon scoring his second try.

Fortunately for the Dragons, their next venture into Casuarina territory worked out a little more to plan, applying plenty of pressure through pick-and-drives, to see lock Euan McKillop over the line.

A Zach Phillips penalty kept the scoreboard ticking and the Cougars looked likely for another score before the half, but a steeled Darwin defence kept them back.

The Dragons struck back with a penalty kick of their off the boot of fly-half Mickael Becat-Narbey in the early stages of the second half to remain within a score.

But another kick from Cougars captain Phillips put his side back on the front foot with just over 20 minutes left.

Darwin had plenty of time to show its forward power, winning another scrum in Cougars territory and capitalising with another penalty.

Another big scrum saved the Dragons and a powerful linebreak from Jonas Niki saw the side in strong contention for another score, particularly with Casuarina’s Cooper Segeyaro yellow carded.

But with momentum against them the Cougars’ forwards, particularly Martin Strachan, stepped up to the plate, winning two turnover scrums to see their side to the win and a grand final berth.

“There’s a lot of relief as we knew we could have played better last week, but although we made it hard for ourselves we played really well,” Phillips told the NT News.

“For us it was about starting strong as we have started slow previously playing catch-up footy but we wanted to come out and make a statement.

“To Dragons’ credit they matched us in the second half and made it a real grind. It was a team effort and all the boys played their roles to hold on.

“Our defence in the end was all about courage. We have a few broken bodies, boys on their haunches and for them to get those two turnovers in the scrums was massive.

“The forwards were amazing particularly Marty Strachan. His defence is just crazy – littlest bloke on the field but throws his weight around.

“Heading into the final it’s just about setting ourselves up. We create a lot of opportunities but it’s about getting those one-percenters right.”

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Casuarina will go on to play minor premiers South Darwin in the grand final on March 20.