City claim last rights over Country

City have held out Country to claim the final honours in the last annual fixture at Mudgee on Sunday, running out 20-10 winners.

After trailing 14-6 with 25 minutes to go, Country second rower Adam Elliott put the home side back in the match when he crossed on the right edge in front of 8,322 at Glen Willow Sports Complex.

But despite a weight of possession on City’s line, Country were unable to pull off one final fairytale finish in the axed concept.

On one occasion, veteran Tariq Sims busted 50 metres down field and was tackled just metres from the line by City’s Clinton Gutherson.

City’s Bryce Cartwright then gave the game its last rights when he collected a loose ball to score under the posts.

Earlier, James Tamou gave City control of the match when he added to their 8-6 lead 10 minutes into the second half.

Tamou, who was easily the best of the Origin candidates with 177 metres, barged through two defenders from close to the line to claim the try.

City hooker Cameron McInnes also looked dangerous out of dummy-half and made one line break, while Paul Vaughan totalled 132 metres up front from Country to press his Origin chances.

Meanwhile City hopeful Matt Moylan was solid at the back without being spectacular.

Paul Gallen was also immense in his representative return for City.

While the former Blues captain has all but ruled out an Origin return, he was still the best forward on the field with 190 metres and four offloads.

City’s win came despite officials having to delay their team naming earlier in the week following a number of withdrawals.

However it was one of their reserve grade players who opened the scoring, when David Gower ran onto a Chad Townsend pass in the 10th minute.

Country hit back to make the score 6-6 just before halftime when Anthony Don intercepted a Bryce Cartwright long ball for a length-of-the-field try, but City reclaimed the lead with a penalty goal before the break.