The Gungahlin Bulls have claimed a 14-4 win over the Yass Magpies in a hard-fought Reserve Grade Grand Final.
With the score locked up at fulltime, the game went into extra time, where the Bulls added eight more points to secure a grand final redemption win.
The game opened with both teams trading sets for the first ten minutes, with solid defence on both sides preventing any scoring opportunities.
The Bulls struggled to make ground, stuck inside Yass’ red zone as penalties plagued their game. A high tackle eventually handed them possession, allowing them to work their way back to the 20.
Both sides battled for the opening points, but incomplete sets stalled their attacking momentum.
Gungahlin nearly broke the deadlock when Cody Smith barged through Yass’s defence, but a knock on ruled out the try.
Both teams continued to push for field position, with the Bulls reaching the red zone again after scaling down the left edge, only to lose the ball.
With five minutes remaining in the first half and both teams still locked in an arm wrestle, a Bulls knock on handed the Magpies a golden opportunity. However, they failed to capitalise, exhausting their set and turning possession back to Gungahlin.
A Bulls line break saw them sprint downfield and cross on the right edge, but an incorrect play the ball meant the try was disallowed.
A 40/20 from the Bulls set them 10 metres out with 20 seconds remaining in the half. A skilful kick sailed to the right edge, finding Lachlan Armstrong, who crossed for the first points of the day. The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 4–0 at halftime.
The start of the second half mirrored the first, with both teams playing end to end football.
In the 45th minute, a Yass line break nearly led to points, but a strong tackle forced a dropped ball, ending their attacking run.
Finally, in the 51st minute, a brilliant run from Magpies’ Dylan Percival found space and he crosses for a try. A missed conversion left the score tied at 4–all.
Yass repeatedly reached the red zone, coming close to scoring with some swift play, but errors disrupted their chance.
With seven minutes remaining, an intercept by Yass set them up for a field goal. The attempt was charged down, but Yass regathered the ball to earn an extra set.
Gungahlin regained possession with two minutes remaining and were looking to wrap the game up with a field goal, but it fell short.
With 20 seconds left, a Bulls knock on handed possession back to the Magpies, but the siren sounded, sending the game into extra time with the scores locked at 4 – all.
The Bulls struck first, with Kai Pennay grounding the ball, and Travis Vawdon converting to make it 10–4.
Moments later, a Bulls fumble ten metres from Yass’s line gave them a chance to level the score, but they were unable to trouble the scorers before the first five minutes of extra time expired.
The Bulls kept pushing, with Pennay crossing for his second try and securing a 14-4 grand final victory for Gungahlin.
