Shute Shield grand final: Rodney Iona helps Gordon complete fairytale 28-8 win over Eastwood

It was so 2020. A grand final stopped briefly so the crowd could social distance and then won by a club which finished dead last in the Shute Shield just two seasons ago.

Gordon on their way to winning the Shute Shield against Eastwood. Pic: Karen Watson

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After one of the most unforgettable years in Australian sporting history it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that something crazy was going to happen in the Shute Shield grand final.

And it did, except it wasn’t on the field.

Gordon on Saturday added the Shute Shield to the minor premiership they won earlier this month with their 28-8 victory over Eastwood.

The fairytale win - the club’s first title since 1998 - came just two seasons after the team finished dead last and without a single win in the premier club rugby competition.

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Gordon dropped just one game during the 2020 season. Pic: Karen Watson

Rodney Iona scored one of Gordon’s tries in the grand final. Pic: Karen Watson

It also came after the match was stopped by officials in the first half and players watched patiently as a team of COVID-19 safety marshalls were sent into the crowd to separate fans and make them compliant with current coronavirus rules and regulations.

Australian sevens player Tim Anstee opened the scoring in the eighth minute for Eastwood but superboot Tane Edmed missed the conversion kicked into a swirling wind.

Gordon took a 6-5 lead in the 17th courtesy of the second of two penalty goals from Rodney Iona who then added a third in the first half before teammate Brandon Quinn offloaded to Reece McDonald just three minutes before halftime to send Gordon into the sheds up 14-5.

Gordon's Rodney Iona has been a standout for his club this season. Pic: Karen Watson

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Edmed kicked a penalty goal in the second half to put Eastwood within six points of the Darren Coleman coached Gordon side before Iona went over for a try with 10 minutes to go to seal the deal for Gordon.

Last years champions Sydney University failed to make the decider of the Shute Shield but dominated in the lower grades. Sydney University beat Easts 27-26 in first colts and 43-27 in second grade.