Marlins win grand final

THE Marlins had to overcome a determined Magpies outfit and, what they say, was a lop sided penalty count against the Marlins 11 -2.

However, despite the penalty count, both teams left nothing in the tank and threw everything at each other during the torrid encounter.

As expected the game had the spectators hanging from the edge of their seats with the lead changing many times during the course of the game  Both teams were on the end of sin bins from Referee, Rod Copp, with Marlins young gun, Stephan Blair, the first to the bin for foul play in the 25th minute.

Lower Macleay pivot, Luke Dufty, capitalised one minute later with a try under the posts to give the Magpies a 6-0 lead after the conversion.

With the Marlins downa player and also behind on the score board, Marlins captain and coach Grant Schubert put Sam Rouse into the game with an immediate impact.

Rouse opened up the Magpies defence with a charging run to score out wide to have the score at 6-4 Magpies way, conversion unsuccessful.

But in the 37th minute, Magpies centre, Thomas Stevenson, found the revolving sin bin door and Rouse made the Magpies pay for being a man down with his second try to give the Marlins the lead 10-6 with Owen Blair Jnr, converting.

With tempers and frustration starting to show from both camps, Magpie enforcer, Trent deGioia, was sin binned in the 36th minute and two minutes later Marlin, Grant Coleman, received the same fate of the revolving sin bin door.

The Marlins went to the half time break with a 10-6 lead.

With the resumption of play, Magpies’ centre, Corey Grigg, caught the Marlins defence napping with a try to give the Magpies the lead again with a Dufty conversion 12-10.

But the lead was short lived with, Owen Blair Jnr, scoring a brilliant try from a kick behind the Magpies defence with Blair winning the race to the ball. Stephan Blair converted to have the Marlins back in front 16-12

But Dufty scored from a Marlins mistake in the 67th minute to again give the Magpies the lead 18-16 with only 10 minutes to go

With the game teetering on a knife edge, Man of the Match, Sam Drew, reclaimed the lead in the 70th minute when he scored out wide for the Marlins to give them a 20-18 lead.  

With minutes remaining Owen Blair Jnr clinched the Marlins victory with another kick and chase try to seal a historic 24-18 victory.

At the end of the match, Marlins captain and coach Grant Schubert said he can’t congratulate the boys’ enough. 

 “Their determination in defence particularly in the first half especially when we didn’t have the ball until the 25th minute was outstanding,” Schubert said.

“The Magpies just kept coming and they were relentless, but our boys just scrambled and were solid in defence and they worked so hard for each other.

“We copped a few decisions that went against us but we stuck to our good habits to keep us focused to get us through the game and the boys to their credit worked hard and the deserved the win for the effort they have all put in throughout the year.

“I would also like to thank all the families and supporters that made the trip on the day and made it so special and for getting right behind us.”

Marlins President, Geoff Ball, said the game was a typical grand final and both clubs should be proud of their achievements in 2015.

“Well done to Grant Schubert and his coaching staff on the premiership and these men have brought pride to SWR and the Macleay Valley.”

Hastings League president, Geoff Connor, said the forwards clash was exciting. 

“The Blairs have got so much speed,” Connor said. 

 “The game was one of the best deciders I’ve seen in a while and it was bloody excellent.”

More photos: Macleay Argus gallery