South Darwin win Darwin Rugby premiership with win over Palmerston

An incredible comeback from South Darwin has seen them claim Darwin Rugby’s 40th first grade premiership after they came back from a 15-point deficit to beat Palmerston 36-31 last night

South Darwin's Rhys Mulholland opened the scoring for his side in the Darwin Rugby grand final. PICTURE: Justin Kennedy

An incredible comeback from South Darwin has seen them claim Darwin Rugby’s 40th first grade premiership after they came back from a 15-point deficit to beat Palmerston 36-31 last night.

In what was an incredible match filled with momentum shifts, it was the Bunnies who held strong to take revenge after last year’s grand final disappointment.

It couldn’t have started any better for Palmerston as they began with all the field position and territory.

Liam Bilston crashed over from short range inside the right side corner post to give the Crocs the early lead.

Souths responded with two quick tries.

The first came through the form of inside centre Rhys Mulholland and the second to Jake Rainger, who went over untouched in the left hand corner.

The Crocs replied four minutes later after some nice play by fly-half Jethro Yates.

He created space for Jackson Pearson to score and once again put the tri-colours in front.

Palmerston would strike a damaging blow only seconds out from the break. After choosing to kick for touch rather than take a shot at three points, Bradley Van der Heyden scored from close range to give the Crocs a 15-point halftime buffer.

Souths scored the first try after the interval. Once again it was Jake Rainger. The winger weaved his way passed the Crocs defence from 10m out to give the Rabbits hope with half an hour to play.

Two penalty goals from Taylor extended the Crocs’ lead, before Tom O’Connor scored a try for Souths in the corner to bring them within touching distance at 31-22.

Souths’ Lepani Nabuiwaqa then used his power and speed to beat several defenders and score underneath the sticks to take the Bunnies to within two with 15 minutes remaining.

A yellow card was handed to Jackson Pearson after he infringed in the ruck and Souths used the extra man to their advantage. Nabuiwaqa once again beating would-be tacklers to put Souths in front for the first time in the match with only seven minutes remaining.

The Rabbitohs defended gallantly in the final stages to claim their fifth premiership, with Misioka Timoteo voted best on ground.