The boot of Jack Nosworthy was all that could separate the Townsville Stingers and Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Cyril Connell Cup state final today, with his extra time field goal earning the North Queensland team a 31-30 victory.
It was the second week in a row a field goal from the halfback had earned his side a win – last week it was in his team’s semi-final over the Souths Logan Magpies, while this time it was in the big one.
It was a great end to the season for the Stingers who remain undefeated in the Cyril Connell Cup.
In the final moments of the game, the Falcons were in front by a converted try it was the Stingers hooker Enemarki Shibasaki who ensured his team still had a chance with a try in final minutes to put the game into extra time.
This final had it all extra time excitement, electrifying defence, one-on-one strips and strong runs from both teams, but it was the Stingers who stole the show.
Leading by two points at halftime, the Stingers were only a nose in front and the crowd at Langlands Park knew they had an electrifying second half in store.
The Stingers defeated the Falcons in the final round of the regular season by a close margin, and there was not much between these two teams.
This final was a battle between the best and the scoring margin between the two teams remained within six-points at its widest.
Playing their first grand final, the Falcons put up a strong fight and battled right to end and even produced the Man of the Match in prop forward Carlos Swasbrook-Murray, but they were not strong enough for the Stingers.
A try to Falcons Jack Wright seemed to have sealed victory for the Falcons who were leading 30-24 with only minutes left on the board.
With strong attack and good field position, this game was far from over and late try to the Stingers hooker Shibasaki in the corner sent the game into extra time.
Earlier in the match, Stingers captain Jack Althaus put the first points on the board and led the team well by gaining strong metres and producing great defence.
TOWNSVILLE STINGERS 31 (Tom Kenny 3, Jack Althaus, Enemarki Shibasaki tries; Thomas McCagh 5 goals; Jack Nosworthy field goal) def SUNSHINE COAST FALCONS 30 (Jack Wright, Jye Johnson, Braydon Trindall, Tyson Smoothy, Steven Borg, Mateus Chankay tries; Tyson Smoothy 3 goals) at Tapout Energy Stadium, Langlands Park in Extra Time.
