The Tigers book their ticket to the Grand Final in front of their home fans

The Bungendore Tigers have booked their place in the 2024 George Tooke Shield grand final with 19-4 victory over the Harden Hawks at Mick Sherd Oval. 

In a match where the home side were in control for majority of the contest the Tigers have ensured the 2024 grand final will be played at their home ground, whilst the Hawks will return home next week for a must win final against . 

Bungendore started the better of the two sides with a forty twenty in the opening set of six courtesy of Carl Johnson providing the home side with the early territory advantage. 

After a Hawks error coming out of their own end the Tigers opened the scoring after a short side raid which was finished off by Micheal Gordon. 

The home side's early domination continued as Bungedore starved the visitors of the ball, holding majority of the possession inside the opening fifteen minutes of the contest. 

Tigers centre Micheal Gordon crossed for his second of the afternoon with a strong run against the grain carrying three defenders over the line in the process to extend the home side's lead. 

Ill-discipline from the Hawks plagued the visitors with the majority of the first half being spent defending their own try line. 

The Tigers thought they secured their third in the twenty second minute through backrower Josh Baker, only for desperate Harden defence preventing the home side from furthering their lead. 

A Tigers error in the middle of the field, combined with a repeat set of six through an Ethan Newham grubber kick provided the Hawks with their best field position of the afternoon with six minutes remaining in the first half. 

However, the home side's defence held strong, turning the visitors away and after an error from Jarred Pope out of his own end they were back on the attack with Connor Griffiths unable to collect a Collins grubber kick with the Hawks defence continuing to scramble. 

The Tigers fullback Daniel Jacobs tried for a field goal on the stroke of half time only to miss on the right hand side, with Bungendore taking a ten nil lead into the break. 

The visitors were looking for a strong start out of the break with a penalty providing Harden with early field position. 

Eight minutes into the second half hawks were reduced to twelve after Riley Manwaring  was sent to the sin bin. 

Despite being down a man the Hawks fought hard in the ten minute period, fighting desperately in defence to ensure the half time score remained. 

After returning to the field from his stint on the sideline Riley Manwaring repaid his teammates as he converted a shift the right hand side and crossed for his ninth try of the season to bring the score back to a converted try.

With seven minutes remaining, Bungendore halfback Carl Johson extended the Tigers lead, knocking over a field goal from fifteen metres out. 

A penalty for offside from a dropout ensured that the Bungedore Tigers were successful in their quest to lock up a home grand final. 

The cherry was placed on top by Alexander Evans who bundled over three defenders before sprinting past the chasing Hawks defenders to score underneath sticks that brought the Tigers fans to their feet. 

The Harden Hawks return home next week for a home preliminary final against the winner in the eliminator between Binalong and Cootamundra, while the Bungendore Tigers will eagerly await the winner.