Losers celebrate with the winners

Aaron Hartmann is sent into the turf by a Rhino rival during yesterday’s Grafton Derby.

THE Grafton Ghosts and the Grafton Rhinos were celebrating last night but for different reasons.

The Ghosts have gone through the regular season undefeated which is no mean feat and the Rhinos have booked themselves a place in the semi-finals for the first time since entering the NRRRL competition.

Ghosts have also won the prestigious club championship with their under-18s and reserve grade also featuring in the playoffs.

For the Ghosts, wrapping up the minor-premiership has given them a well-deserved week off while the Rhinos will now front up against Cudgen, at Cudgen this Saturday night in the elimination semi-final.

Cudgen went down to Northern United 38-36 in a thriller on Sunday and although playing in front of a home crowd will be nervous after losing to the Rhinos by an embarrassing margin earlier in the season

Northern United have a chance at another crack at the Ghosts if they can topple a much-improved Ballina side who cantered home 58-12 against the hapless Magpies.

United have most teams in the competition on tenterhooks after stringing together nine wins on the trot. And with Roy Bell and David Briggs junior weaving their magic the Seagulls will need to be at their very best.