WERRIS CREEK 26

BENDEMEER held up its end of the bargain in its fight with Manilla for a home semi-final but it wasn’t enough.

The Mountain Men had to win at Werris Creek to be in with a chance of taking third place and did it, 40-26, but also needed Manilla to lose.

That didn’t happen and Bendy will have to go to Manilla next Saturday to play for their season.

“Our home ground hasn’t been the fortress I would have liked this year anyway,” Bendy coach Dean Ellison said.

“We’re going to have to beat Werris Creek at Werris Creek and Dungowan at Dungowan if we’re going to win the comp.

“They could put some goal posts in the middle of the highway and it wouldn’t worry me.”

But the Mountain Men are happy to take winning form into the finals even if it wasn’t

convincing.

“We did our best to lose it,” Ellison said.

“Everything we trained for during the week we didn’t do.

“But a win’s a win and we can take that into the semis.

“But if we want to win in the semis a few things will have to change.”

Adrian Fisher scored three tries for the Mountain Men to continue his scoring spree but Ellison was most impressed with halfback Kieran Fisher.

“He touches the ball more than anyone other than the dummy half so he controls things for us,” he said.

“It’s good that he’s starting to find his feet coming into the semis.

“I think next year he will be a really handy player.”

The number seven will have to take on a lot of responsibility in the minor semi too.

Bendy has lost one of its most experienced players to a nasty off-field accident.

“We’ve lost Brett Walsh for the year,” Ellison said.

“Shane Kilby has a break in his collarbone so he’s gone for the year and another guy (Josh Collins) has done his ac joint.

“So we’ve got a few injuries.”

Walsh fell down a set of steps and into a brick wall.

He was in a coma and is still feeling the effects but is up and about again.

Ellison said Thomas Moore also played well when pushed into the centres.

The Creek was badly undermanned, with Stewart Porter away and several other players also unavailable.

The Magpies had already booked a place in the major semi against Dungowan.

“Werris Creek played well with only the 13 players,” club official Darby Sherlock said.

“They died a bit in places but we were pretty happy with them.”

They will meet the Cowboys next Sunday for a place in the grand final.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Sherlock said.

“They’re all talking about getting to training.

“If they don’t get keen now they never will.”

The minor semi at Manilla is on Saturday with the major semi to follow on Sunday.