Club final played in fine but chilly conditions at Okara Park between Kamo & the Western Sharks.
Kamo managed to hang on to take the lollies 26-20, but not without a final minute scare with time pretty much up, Kamo continued to press into the Sharks 22 and coughed the ball up, Sharks winger Lucas Payne took it 60m downfield, but eventually Kamo got the ball and put it into touch.
The Sharks were first to draw blood after a poor option to pass by FB Jayden Laupepe went to ground and Sharks Hooker Jordan Hutchings galloped 30m to score.
Kamo bounced back, after turning down 2 easy shots at goal, eventually crashed over in the corner to even the score.
2 further penalties from Laupepe saw Kamo stretch thier lead, and then right on the stroke of halftime a missed kick to touch by the Sharks saw Kamo regather on the halfway, some nice passing and Mason Hohaia went in the corner to take a 16-5 lead.
An early intercept from Kamo's 7, Zae Mangu saw them stretch thier lead further, although the try was scored under the posts, the conversion was missed.
The Sharks hit back almost immediately from a cleverly worked lineout between lively halfback Jack Bradley and Hutchings, that ended with HUtchings showing good pace to go over for his 2nd.
With Kamo's lead narrowed to 21-10, the Sharks hit again through some great footwork and pace from winger Aseri Vatuinaruku to leave his opposite clutching air.
With the score at 21-15, with less than 20 to go and the Sharks bigger pack in the ascendancy, Kamo 9 Donald Boyd struck after some nice quick hands to push out to 26-15.
Inside the last 5 minutes, flanker Michael Frood struck again for the Sharks to move within a score at 20-26.
That would be the final score but the drama wasn't over, as above a poor option to run the ball with time seemingly up almost opened the door for the Sharks, although it appeared to me that that Sharks also knocked the ball in the movement, the ball was regathered and passed to Lucas Payne, and this kid is quick, but form where I was sitting, he didnt back himself as I thought he had the space to go the length of the field.
Instead he chipped ahead with Blake Hohaia closing, Kamo regathered the ball, and this time put the ball into touch.
As I said, was a scrappy game, both teams with 4 tries, zero conversions from either side, 2 of Kamo's were right in front, the Sharks will also rue thier poor kicking from hand, at least 2 missed touch on penalties, while other poor kicking gave possession and field position back to Kamo.
For Kamo, halfback Donald Boyd was one of thier best, good strength and pass getting himself out of trouble ona few times he took the wrong option, in the forwards, the smaller Kamo loosies worked hard. A few of thier backs were very much rocks and diamonds, including Blake Hohaia, Alec Tipene and Jayden Laupepe.
For the Sharks, hooker Jordan Hutchings was to the fore, as was Matt Matich, although moreso in the 2nd half, while halfback Brady showed good pace but was unable to connect with his team to capitalise on the breaks. Aseri Vatuinaruku rarely saw the ball, which is a shame, as he is an electric runner and the 2 or 3 occasions he did get it, he was the spark for something.
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