The Moss Vale Dragons will get their first taste of finals footy in more than a decade after an extraordinary last round of Group 6 rugby league on the weekend.
The fourth place Dragons were expected to cling onto the last finals spot by knocking over wooden spooners Bowral but a stunning second half revival stole the points for the Kookas and opened the door for Mittagong across town to snatch an unlikely playoff.
The injury-hit Lions were unable to match it with minor premiers Mt Annan though, handing the Dragons a bittersweet passage to the semis.
In an amazing clash at Community Oval, the Dragons saved their best and worst halves of rugby league for the final match, pouring on 28 brilliant points in the first stanza and copping a six tries to blot pasting in the second to go down 34-28.
And the losing coach was first to admit that his side had dodged a bullet.
"That's one of the worst halves of footy I've ever been involved in," Ross Webb said.
"Everything we did right in the first half we did wrong in the second.
"But at least now we get a chance to redeem ourselves in the finals and I'm very relieved.
"We still need to address our focus and get ourselves up for the second half, even when we're in front."
For Bowral, the win offers a parting reward for an inconsistent and injury ravaged 2002.
"That's definitely our best win of the year and we were down and out at half time," captain/coach Matt Loomes said.
"Everyone knows that we can beat any side in this competition but key injuries have killed us.
"It's a good end to a tough season though."
An early double to Dragons' winger Jay Bruce and a length of the field try to Aiden Swanson gave the home side a handy 16-0 lead but Bowral struck back soon after when Donny Cochrane crossed over to make it 16-6.
A try to Terry Fish and a Peter McGuiness four pointer on the halftime siren gave Moss Vale a seemingly match winning 28-6 lead.
But that was the end of the section for Moss Vale as Bowral unleashed one of the greatest comebacks in the club's rich history.
Doubles to centre Andrew Hatch and lock Warren Ganderton as well as tries to Paul Skews and Shane Bennett sealed an impossible victory for the Kookaburras.
Loomes led from the front for Bowral, playing his best match of the season and supported strongly by the irrepressible Hatch and tough forwards Shane Bennett, Warren Ganderton and Paul Skews.
For Moss Vale, Craig Barton, Matt Burke and Steve Porter worked hard up front while Terry Fish kicked superbly.
In the weekend's other division two clash, Robertson has forfeited the vital second spot on the ladder after a controversial 20-18 loss at Warragamba on Saturday.
The Spuddies had two tries disallowed in the second half and must now play Moss Vale in a sudden death semi at Community Oval on Sunday week.
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