The NSW Country Eagles will be chasing their second win of their National Rugby Championship campaign when they host Queensland Country at Scully Park on Saturday in the final round after being pipped by Brisbane City in Camden on Sunday.
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After trailing 14-10 half-time the Eagles ran in 17 unanswered points to lead 27-14 midway through the second half, but the Brisbane side scored twice in five minutes to snatch back the lead and hold on for a 28-27 win.
Quade Cooper’s boot proved the difference, with both sides scoring four tries.
Playing at fullback, Glen Innes’s Alex Newsome scored one of the Eagles’ four tries.
The visitors scored first when winger Emori Waqavulagi crashed over courtesy of a last-pass from prop JP Smith, but NSW Country responded soon after when they counter-attacked from a turnover near their own line.
Winger Jaline Graham's speed and a lovely pass in traffic set Newsome on his way to the line for a 90m effort.
Newsome was binned for a cynical foul not long after but it didn't stop Country from scoring again, Graham finishing off after sustained pressure in the right corner.
Country's lead didn't last long, though, when Tautalatasi Tasi burst through the line from a Cooper switch, and Matt Gordon strolled over under the posts.
The Eagles emerged with the better intent in the second half and after Jed Holloway almost scored, Jack Grant crossed after cleaning up a sloppy line out.
The Eagles' next try came after a guru-like read of a bouncing ball from Sam Figg, when Cooper's short kickoff went back over the halfway line and the NSW flanker was waiting for it.
He sprinted away, offloaded and a few phases later Matt Gibbon scored.
A clean break from Cooper saw the visitors in behind the line, and Pat Morrey crossed from short range in the 68th minute to cut the deficit to six.
Sam Wallis scored the game-winning try five minutes later try when City went back on the attack, and his big right foot step was enough to see him score under the sticks.
Cooper's easy conversion was made and the Eagles couldn't find their way down to a position to score any more points.