In what turned out to be one of the very best games played in the ProTen Community Cup competition to date, Narrandera defeated last year's premiers 28-20 in a thriller at Yanco Sportsground on Saturday.
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In front of a good crowd, the Lizards opened the scoring in the 15th minute after winger De'Andre Williams who has stacks of natural ability sprinted past some ordinary defence to put the ball down next to the post with Gary Ingram adding the extra two.
Williams scored his second soon after completing a slick backline move which was instigated by Ingram who missed the conversion from the sideline to lead 10-0.
Both sides were playing some sparkling football when they had the ball, and at the 28th minute mark, Rankins Springs opened their account with Jamie Parsons scoring next to the post after some good work in the lead up from Billy Overall and John Power and with Damien Walker adding the extras the Dragons trailed by four points.
Narrandera crossed for their third try of the first half when Wade Williams got over just before the halftime siren to see the Lizards leading 16-6 at the break.
Early in the second half Bart McIntyre got over the line to reduce the gap to four points while just four minutes later the Dragons hit the front with a try to Brent Parsons to give them an 18-16 lead.
The try lifted the Red and Whites as they put on a couple of bright attacking raids, but Narrandera's defence was up to the task.
De'Andre Williams scored his third of the afternoon to see his side take a 22-18 lead and then with just three minutes left the Lizards put it to bed when talented centre Jamain Morgan touched down the winner and with Ingram again adding the extras Narrandera were heading to Ivanhoe with a 28-18 lead.
While the margin was 10 points, it was closer than that as the Dragons had their chances to win the game, but the bottom line was Narrandera played the better football when it mattered.
There is little doubt that the result will give Narrandera plenty of confidence ahead of their trip to Ivanhoe to take on Goolgowi.
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