THE Wyong Roos have gone down to the Illawarra Cutters 22-14 in the rugby league NSW Cup in a game that hung in the balance until the final minutes.
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The two sides faced each other just two weeks ago, where the Roos snuck home by four points, but this time it was the Cutters who took home the win.
Illawarra scored first in the 13th minute off a crossfield kick from halfback Shannon Crook.
Wyong responded eight minutes from the break through a Brock Molan try from close range and the teams went into halftime tied at 6-6.
Both sides battled for dominance throughout the second half but with 22 minutes of the match remaining, Wyong were ahead 14-12 but looked vulnerable. Then Crook seized control of the game shortly afterwards in a man-of-the-match performance.
He set up a try and crossed for one himself on fulltime.
Roos coach Rip Taylor said Crook's efforts were aided by repeated errors and poor decision making by his players.
"No one can question the effort today but we just need to be a whole lot smarter," Taylor said.
The NSW Cup has a hiatus this weekend to accommodate the annual representative round.
Wyong, who are currently sitting fifth on the ladder, will play the Wests Tigers on Sunday, May 10, at Morry Breen Oval, 3pm.
