Wests Devils defeated Dapto 24-22 in the Harrigan Cup Qualifying Final, presented by i98 FM, to advance to next week’s major semi against Collegians winger Lachlan Hurst scored a hat-trick in the come from behind win after trailing 18-8 at halftime.
The Canaries will meet De La Salle in the minor semi-final after they disposed of Corrimal 34-22 in the Elimination Final.
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Devils Outlast Dapto In Last-Gasp Thriller
Wests struck early when Te Umuariki Heremia–Tukere crossed in the opening minutes, but Dapto quickly swung momentum their way.
The Canaries took a 12-4 lead with back-to-back tries from Jack Gibbons in the 10th and 17th minutes. The first after a clever kick and regather from the agile second-rower.
Halfback Troy Pieper put Campbell Lyons through in the 27th, then added the extras to push Dapto further ahead.
Wests rallied moments before halftime, with Lachlan Hurst crossing for a much-needed try, narrowing the margin to 18–8 at the break.
The Devils came out firing after the restart, Tatau Moga finding the line. Teenager Clay Baldock, who debuted earlier in the season, converted to reduce the margin to 18-14 with 30 minutes remaining.
Hurst bagged his second after leaping high to collect a Dane Chisholm cross-kick to level the scores in the 56th minute.
Dapto regained the lead 22-18 through two penalty goals to Pieper in the space of 10 minutes.
Hurst sealed his hat-trick in the 75th minute with Baldock nailing the sideline conversion to give his side a thrilling two-point win at the finish.
[Watch] A leaping Lachlan Hurst gets his second for the day, bring Wests back into the contest
De La Salle end finals hoodoo and Cougars fairytale
De La Salle snapped a five match finals losing streak, which included straight set losses in the past two years, defeating Corrimal 36-22 in a rousing come-from-behind victory after trailing 16-10 at halftime and 22-10 early in the second half.
The Cougars opened the scoring through Peni Minisale, who crashed over adjacent to the posts. Halfback Kamren Cryer added the extras and a penalty goal soon after for an 8-0 lead. It wasn’t long before the Cougars were in again, Minisale breaking the line with another damaging run before handing off to Joe Duggan in support.
Trailing 14-0, De La Salle responded with back-to-back tries, scored by centre Tyrell Lafituanai and Kobie Wilson, backing up a Joshua Latham break. With Wydnam Peachey converting one of two attempts, De La Salle trailed 14-10.
Cryer landed another penalty goal on the stroke of halftime, making it 16–10 at the interval.
[Watch] De La Salle halfback Bryce Sait turns one outside in for his fullback Josh Latham before hooker Kobie Wilson backs up to score.
Corrimal had a dream start to the second half, with centre Brandon Morkos running the length after picking up a loose ball from a Bryce Sait cross-kick, which failed to find its mark. Cryer adding the extras to extend the lead to 22-10.
From there, De La took charge, scoring five unanswered tries to end the Cougars’ remarkable comeback season.
Second-rower Meli Nasau and winger Rydell Tyrrell both scored second-half doubles, and Harrison Hood also crossed for a four-pointer in the 12-point win. Peachey finished with three conversions from seven attempts.