A try in the final minutes to Cooma Stallions five-eight, Thomas King, has kept reserve grade in the premiership hunt following a tight 18-14 win over the Bega Roosters.

The Stallions produced a strong second half showing to win through to this Sunday’s preliminary final and keep their title aspirations alive.

With the game in the balance in the final stages, King took the ball the to line and dragged three defenders across the tryline to put Cooma ahead 18-14.

The Stallions forwards of Ky Clare and Jake Humphries delivered a number of strong runs in the second 40 minutes, putting the Cooma outfit on the front foot. This allowed the Stallions’ backline room to move.

The Stallions scored twice in the second half, firstly through a leaping Malcolm Pota to draw 14-all. Bega struggled for attacking opportunities and were held scoreless after half time.

While a game of two halves is a well-worn cliche, it was very much the case in the elimination final showdown between the Stallions and Roosters at Tathra.

Cooma scored first when winger, John Bogana, pounced on a dropped ball from the Bega winger to score in the third minute.

Bega was in control for the next half hour, making the most of Cooma penalties to score three unconverted tries. A penalty conversion close to half time took Bega to a 14-4 lead before Pota scored his first of the match.

The flying winger finished off a nice backline move from a scrum to bring Cooma back to a 14-10 deficit.

The Stallions head to Batemans Bay on Sunday for a preliminary final match against Tathra. They will be joined by the Stallions under 18s who lost on Sunday in the qualifying final to Moruya, They get a second chance this Sunday.