The Gerringong Lions have gone one better to claim the 2023 Group 7 title, defeating the Shellharbour Sharks 12-10 in a thrilling Grand Final at Centenary Field last Sunday.
In a tantalising match, neither side troubled the scoreboard attendants in the first half, while a frantic second half saw the Lions rally in the final few minutes to secure their 21st Group 7 premiership.
It was a nervous start for both teams in stifling hot conditions with uncharacteristic errors in front of two parochial supporter groups packing out the Albion Park ground.
Following a Ryan James error in the Sharks first set of six, the Minor Premiers were under immediate pressure.
The Lions should have gone ahead with prop Alex Weir charging towards the try line, but he lost possession when diving for the try line.
The Lions continued to look the more likely in the opening stages, and from their own half, Gerringong spread the ball with Rixon Russell finding Australian Schoolboys rep Hayden Buchanan.
The speedster only had green grass in front of him but was collared by Shellharbour winger Eze Harper, who saved what appeared to be a certain try.
Nicholas Hay, Ethan O’Connell, and James Ralphs led the way for Shellharbour in the middle, giving acting half Brody Rigg some room to move.
For Gerringong, Weir was his side’s best in the first half, and Nathan Ford looked dangerous when in space, but it was a defensive stoush up the middle from both packs.
The Lions had a golden opportunity to go ahead after 20 minutes of play, with Ralphs throwing an intercept pass to Liam Holland, who was off and racing down the left touchline.
Rigg saved the try by running Holland down before making a textbook tackle from behind.
Shellharbour fullback Braxton Wallace came up with some critical plays in the final stages of the first half as Gerringong peppered the Sharks line.
Firstly, he got out of his in-goal, beating five players as he returning a well-placed kick.
Minutes later, he rushed out of the line to make a key tackle, which brought an end to a Lions attacking raid. Then in the last play of the half he stopped another try when bringing down a rampaging Toby Gumley-Quine.
After a well-earned break Shellharbour almost scored in their first set of six in the second half.
Isaac Morris put up a well-placed kicking for a high-flying Emanual Sultana, who went inches from grounding the ball, only for the playmaker to be stopped just short of the line.
Former Manly Warringah NRL star Josh Starling came from the bench and made a big difference for the Sharks, adding some go-forward and direction as momentum started to shift in their favour.
Despite the apparent momentum move, Gerringong was the first team to get on the board after taking advantage of a Shellharbour mistake in their own half.
In attacking territory, it was Nicholas Quinn fresh on the field who got the ball rolling as he charged forward before getting a miracle offload away to Hamish Holland, who scored under the posts.
Ben Grant knocked over the easy conversion attempt and the Lions led 6-0 after 52 minutes.
Shellharbour went close to hitting back with Isaac Morris stepping left and right and almost slicing through for a try, but the Lions stopped him short.
A Starling one-on-one strip had his side in great attacking field position, and the pressure finally told on the Lions, with Wallace rewarded for a great game when scooting and powering his way over.
Isaac Morris steered the conversion through and the scores were locked at 6-6.
After a 65-minute battle of attrition, it was a frantic final 15 minutes as the Sharks and Lions battled for the premiership.
It was end-to-end action, and the Sharks scored an incredible try to take the lead with nine minutes left on the clock.
Isaac Morris grubbered to his left, and after a deflection, Morris was able to get to the ball first, grounding it inside the left touchline.
Morris’ conversion attempt missed but Shellharbour led 10-6 with nine minutes left.
With both teams out on their feet, it was Shellharbour’s game to win, and the Sharks looked to be finishing the stronger of the two. But Gerringong refused to give in.
The moment arrived with only four minutes on the clock, and it was that man again, Hamish Holland, who scooted from acting half and grubbered for the try line.
Following a deflection, Weir was trailing the ball through and grounded it for a well-earned try under the posts.
Grant made no mistake putting the Lions ahead 12-10 with three minutes remaining.
In a scintillating finish, Shellharbour threw everything at Gerringong, but Lions held firm.
Hamish Holland was named Player of the Match and the Lions began celebrating their first Group 7 premiership since 2020.
