East Campbelltown Eagles go from rags to riches with fairytale Sydney Shield victory
A YEAR ago, East Campbelltown were dumped from Country Rugby League’s Group 6 competition due to a discrepancy over junior players’ eligibility.
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A YEAR ago, East Campbelltown were dumped from Country Rugby League’s Group 6 competition due to a discrepancy over junior players’ eligibility.
On Sunday, they answered their critics with a 27-20 win over Mounties in the Sydney Shield grand final at Allianz Stadium.
The club can now lay claim to being the most successful club in Campbelltown, having won premierships in Wests A grade, Canterbury A grade, Group 6 first grade, CRL Claytons Cup and the NSWRL Sydney Shield.
With 10 minutes to play, the grand final was locked at 20-20.
The Eagles had got themselves into trouble, down 20-12 with 25 minutes to go.
But the boys in red and white refused to give in, despite being up against one of Sydney’s toughest clubs.
Giovanni Vatuvai’s try to close to within two points inspired teammates that they could still win the match.
PHOTOS: check out a gallery from grand final day
Stephen Harding had a tremendous day with the boot with five from six and he nailed a clutch 70th-minute penalty goal to level the scores 20-20.
Lamoni Kamuta managed to make a break and offload to the flying Cruise Iosefa to score in the corner for the Eagles to take the lead with seven minutes remaining.
Harding again showed nerves of steel to convert from the sideline with a kick that never looked like missing to give Easts an important converted try lead.
Chris Standing slotted a 79th-minute field goal to put the game, and the premiership, to bed.
Sam Hoare was named man of the match.
WON: Beat Mounties 27-20
HALF-TIME: Mounties 14-12
TRIES: Totoui, Hoare, Vatuvai, Iosefa
GOALS: Harding 5 from 6; Standing field goal
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