Darwin Dragons clinch grand final glory over Casuarina Cougars to secure back-to-back A-grade premierships

DARWIN Dragons secured back-to-back titles in a last gasp 17-15 grand final win over Casuarina Cougars to see out the 2020 Darwin A-grade rugby union competition

Darwin Dragons celebrate back-to-back A-grade premierships after win over Casuarina Cougars. Picture: Leithal Pictures

DARWIN Dragons secured back-to-back titles on the back of a last gasp 17-15 win over Casuarina Cougars to see out the 2020 Darwin A-grade rugby union competition.

In only their third grand final meeting, and their first since the 1985-86 season, it was the Dragons who emerged victorious despite perhaps coming in with the larger question mark finishing fourth in the regular season.

It was the Dragons who earned the early edge with captain Hirini Murfitt muscling over the line after a number of pick and drives close on the Cougars line.

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But Casuarina was quick to jump back into the contest through a period of dominance from their own forward pack to give Josh Phillips a score.

Eager to go into the half ahead Cougars opted for a penalty from the halfway line which was handily dealt with by Zachary Phillips to give his side the lead.

More points were laid on in the second half with player-coach Joe Albert crossing the white paint off a line out, however a missed conversion would prove costly.

Dragons struck back quickly with Ankin Lewis scoring off a kick chase missed by his opposition winger and the accuracy of Nigel Maher brought the score within one point.

And a win now close Dragons looked to their forwards to push the ball up the field in over 30-phase attack on the Cougars line.

Casuarina fought hard but an offside gave their opposition an injury time penalty which Maher slotted over to seal the win and earn his side their second title in as many years.

Dragons coach Puru Westrupp was stoked with the efforts of his side particularly the forward pack who pushed the side to victory.

“It’s a great feeling of relief to have come away with that win and such a top game from both sides,” Westrupp told the NT News.

“We made a couple of errors at times but we have an awesome bunch of guys who all gave a massive effort.

“A lot of our win goes to our front row who put a lot of pressure on their scrum and line out which enabled us a lot of front foot ball.

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“Going back-to-back hasn’t quite sunk in but it’s an awesome achievement from the side to have won.”