SECOND rower Anthony Simmonds produced a last-gasp try to give the Werribee Bears a thrilling 20-16 win over Craigieburn Phoenix and get their Victorian Rugby League first-grade campaign back on track.
Simmonds, a former union player with Wyndham City Rhinos, caught the Phoenix defence back-pedalling after powerful runs from forwards Junior Namani and Trevor Tutalea.
Winding up for a barnstorming run, Simmonds took a number of defenders with him, but maintained enough momentum to extend his arm over the try-line for the match-winning points.
“He wrestled out of a number of tackles and dived over. ,” Bears coach Grant Paaka said. “Everyone ran in from the sidelines after the game and celebrated like it’s a grand final.”
The victory lifted dark clouds that had hovered over the Bears and followed a mid-season soul search.
“That win was a couple of weeks in the making. We had a few bonding sessions, we changed up our training and tried to get fitter,” Paaka said.
“You can’t underestimate how good Phoenix is on their own patch. One of the most improved teams.”
The key to the Bears’ victory was the Berryman brothers, Blain and Jarred, who’ve formed a lethal halves combination.
Junior Nomani was the player of the match coming off the bench.
Despite a rough patch, the Bears are just half a game outside the top four and face an interesting tussle with finals contenders North West Wolves at home on Sunday.
The out-of-form Wolves enter on the back of consecutive losses.
