University Take Title in Epic Extra Time Thriller

After a season filled with exciting and intense matches this year’s Grand Final delivered more of the same as University took the Title with a 10 – 7 extra time victory over a gallant Shamrocks outfit at WIN Stadium. The Bulls held a 7 – 0 lead at halftime only to see Shamrocks equalise with a late converted try to take the match into extra time. With regular kicker Donovan Nepia banished to the bin midway through the first period of extra time, Uni halfback Tom Baker stepped up, and nailed a penalty goal to break the deadlock and set up an amazing Uni win.

With strong committed defence the order of the day from both sides the first fifteen minutes of the match was a real arm wrestle. Shamrocks winger Cheyne Pike received the first of four Yellow Cards issued throughout the match after fourteen minutes from Referee David Gunning. The Bulls took full advantage of the extra player lifting their intensity in attack but were denied tries on four occasions during this period by the Rocks outstanding commitment to their task of defending their line.