Eastern Suburbs have ended a 55 year Shute Shield drought with a 36-35 win over Northern Suburbs in a classic Grand Final.
NSW Waratahs flanker Charlie Gamble proved the hero, coming up with the try-saving tackle in the final minute after a second-half comeback from Norths.
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Trailing 16 points at the break, Norths came out in the second half firing and hit the front late with Wallaby Darby Lancaster responding and scoring the game-winning try with 15 minutes to go.
The Easts’ Waratahs contingency stood up as Gamble, Lancaster and Miles Amatosero powered them home.
The core of last year’s Junior Wallabies side opened the game up for the first try for Easts as Wallabies debutant Darby Lancaster was put into space thanks to a brilliant ball from Jack Bowen, with his offload back to Teddy Wilson giving the scurmhalf enough space to beat the defenders and score.
Their dominance continued when a perfect 50/22 that was basically a 30/15 from fullback Chris Bell flipped the field and set up Great Britain Sevens backrower Jamie Adamson to crash over.
Norths weren’t ready to roll over and kept themselves in the contest despite an Easts onslaught.
Western Force centre Henry O’Donnell ran a perfect line to score and the boot of Jude Gibbs reduced the margin to two.
Eastern Suburbs looked set to run away with the Final thanks to two late first half tries but this only spurred on Norths for a comeback.
Prop Michael Scott dived over to start the second half revival, with centre O’Donnell the chief destroyer in attack and defence.
His try just before the hour mark reduced the margin and brought the Shoreman into the game.
Flanker Ed Timpson produced some magic, sprinting away to give them their first lead of the match with 18 minutes to go.
However, a mistake from the kickoff presented an easy opportunity for Easts to hit back and the combination of Bowen and Lancaster restored their lead.
Gibbs’ third penalty of the day reduced the margin to one to set up a tense finish.
Norths enjoyed their fair share of territory and will be frustrated they didn’t get a call for an apparent push off the ball from an O’Donnell break six minutes from full-time.
They went back on the attack with a minute to go five metres out and a desperate stretch from James Margin had Norths fans celebrating on the hill.
But the replacement hooker lost it as he reached out for the line, with the strength of Gamble forcing the error and delivering the win.
