The Cobras went into the game without a couple of key players including the unfortunate loss of star fullback Joe Gorton who, after x-rays earlier in the week, had a plate inserted to mend a fractured jaw sustained in last week’s game.

The first stanza was relentless with attack and pressure from the visitors but the Clarro defence stood solid.

On several occasions last ditch tackles and great front-on defence repelled the opposition until midway through the half the Jets’ five-eight slid through a tired tackle to score.

The conversion gave Williamtown a 6-0 lead.

From the restart with the help of a penalty late in the set, Williamtown was again camped on the Cobras line.

It was hard to single out any player responsible for this defensive effort as it seemed as if each player was there for each other as they continually maintained a strong line.

Eventually Clarro clawed their way into opposition territory and with just one minute before half-time, Middleton put a clever reverse kick back to the centre of the field for the flying Buddi Jackonia to pounce on the bouncing ball and score.

With the successful conversion a 6-all scoreline at the break was a very pleasing result for the home-side.

At this stage several players had contributed to a rousing first half.

Young winger Shane Lewis  showed further improvement with a brilliant kick and also produced several solid tackles in defence.

Drinkwater and Batey were hard in the rough stuff and Jackonia, apart from scoring, was playing a starring role in every department of the game.

But it was Badior who had also been in the thick of everything, who darted out of dummy half from 15 metres out and stepped through three defenders to put the Cobras in the lead.

A simple conversion in front had Clarro 12-6 in front.

An indiscretion whilst in possession proved fatal for Clarro.

As a result winger Rob Elliott was sent to the sin bin and not long after the stretched Cobras’ defence surrendered to level the scores at 12-all.

Again the visitors mounted pressure and again they scored to put them 16-12 in the lead with 15 minutes remaining.

Clarro had enough possession in the closing stages to win the game but either panicked a little at times or dropped a ball at crucial stages in the tackle count and as a result found themselves at the end of an agonising 16-12 loss.

The game was a fantastic spectacle and several players including Trappel who took over at fullback, played wonderful games.

There are no games next week due to Easter and the following week on Sunday, April 27, Clarence Town will play Hinton at 1pm at Hinton.

Best forward Buddi Jackonia, best back Ben Trappel, supporters award James Foot, best benchy Scott Batey and players’ player Buddi Jackonia.

Best and fairest points: 1 Scott Batey, 2 Phil Badior and 3 Buddi Jackonia.