Mid Western silence doubters with win

Against the odds, Mid Western proved their doubters wrong, defeating last year's champions Hora Hora at home in a thrilling semifinal clash.
Mid Western have not won the Joe Morgan Memorial trophy since 1962 - and to go from the bottom rungs  last year to securing a home final this weekend against Wellsford was a huge achievement for the youthful side led by proud skipper Adam Clark.
The half-back revelled in their underdog status following his side's 16-15 win, holding off the hosts when they threw all they had left in the tank during the game's closing minutes.
"I'm the happiest bugger in the world right now," Clark said.
 "No one believed we could get to where we are today and to beat last year's champions is really something for us and the club, who have stood by us and supported us ... especially after we got a good dealing-to last week."
The doubters grew louder when Mid Western were crushed by an impassive Mid Northern side last Saturday.
Many had also claimed without their Northland contingent of Lachie Munro, Brook Gilmore and Matt Clutterbuck, Mid Western would not have a hope of making the final.
Mid Western's defensive and attacking efforts on Saturday were characteristic of how the side had played throughout the season, Clark said, even though they were missing those key players who watched intently from the sideline.
A large vocal crowd turned out at Hora Hora Park to watch the game which could have gone either way, with both sides forcing penalties in difficult playing conditions.
Hora Hora's Doug Kay was first to put points on the board after being driven across the line from a rolling maul for a try, converted by  captain Karl Milne.
Mid Western fullback Luke Muggeridge kicked his first penalty for Mid Western, followed by a try on halftime when Karaitana Vette-Walsh found space after snatching an intercept from the fumbling Hora Hora backline.
Muggeridge's conversion saw the visitors take the lead 10-7 at the halfway mark, however, early in the second half Hora Hora turned up the heat again with another huge driving maul sending Aaron Baigent across for the second try, which Milne failed to convert, leaving the score at 12-10.
Another penalty edged Mid Western in front by one point but Hora Hora replied with a penalty conversion of their own and took the lead again 15-13.
With only minutes remaining, a costly knock-on for Hora Hora saw Mid Western awarded another penalty and Muggeridge tapped the ball over for the 16-15 lead, which they held onto despite a last minute surge from the hosts. Hora Hora captain Karl Milne said his side had prime scoring opportunities but could not finish them off.
"We were pretty unlucky a couple of times at the wrong end of the field," he said. "I think we played the better game but one bad pass and the disallowed try [for Baigent] didn't help us." 
Hora Hora manager Herbert Beckham said while his side was disappointed, he congratulated Mid Western on their  achievement - one that Clark and his troops would savour for a long time yet.