IN what was fullback Josh Veivers' final game in a Darlington Point Coleambally Roosters jersey, the Englishman came up big when they needed him the most.
With five minutes to play and the Roosters having just scored in the corner to bring the deficit to just two, they turned to their trusty left-footed goalkicker.
Up until that point, Veivers was three of four on the day in front of the sticks.
You wouldn't have known it was his hardest kick of the day if you saw his calm approach to the tee.
He lined it up and never looked in doubt as the ball went sailing over the black dot. Roosters captain/coach Clinton Green knows Veivers will be leaving some big shoes to fill.
“Veivers just yaps all day defensively,” Green joked.
“Until you play with him you don't understand how much he brings to the team.
“It’s a massive blow for us.”
The game started out on the right track for the Roosters.
After being gifted field position off the opening kickoff, Green scooted over from dummy half to open the scoring.
It was the Hawks who dominated the next 15 minutes though as mistakes cost the Roosters.
The Hawks ran in back-to-back tries to take a 12-6 advantage.
After the Roosters were again piggbybacked down the field by a Hawks penalty, they took full advantage. Ben Tupou found a gap in the defence to level things up.
Just before the end of the half, Yanco scored in the corner to go up 16-12 at the break.
Coming out of the sheds it was the Roosters who looked the goods.
Robbie Simpson barged his way over for two tries in the span of ten minutes and the home side was up by six.
A fierce run by Yanco's Taina Heke had the Roosters down six with the clock running out.
After a missed field goal by the Hawks from point blank range, the Roosters took full advantage as Green rammed his way over for his second.
After Veivers converted, both sides had a chance to win it with a field goal, but each time came up empty.
Final score: 28-28.
Veivers will now be heading back to England.
