Terrific Tigers claim GTS title

Winning their first title since 2015 while erasing the memory of their 2020 and 2022 defeats, the Bungendore Tigers are again the Blumers Lawyers George Tooke Shield champions.

Playing in front of a bumper home crowd at Mick Sherd Oval, Bungendore dominated large chunks of the contest, defeating the Harden Hawks 30-10.

Discipline cost the Tigers early, and on the back of two penalties, Harden was able to cross first, with Austin Power setting up a blindside attacking raid, which was finished off nicely by Ryan Daley.

With the wind causing drama, Daley couldn’t convert, and the Hawks led 4-nil after five minutes of play.

Harden earned a penalty after points, but the visitors soon made an error, gifting Bungendore a strong field position.

Tigers’ playmaker Carl Johnson was able to force a repeat set, leading to another attacking set.

Getting the home crowd up and about, a barnstorming Patrick Pryor was able to power his way over for a strong front rower’s try.

Daniel Jacobs converted, and the Tigers led 6-4 after 10 minutes.

Bungendore had their tails up after points, with Jack Bramley getting out of acting half and putting the likes of Brad Laurent, Peter Mortimer and Luke Colquhoun on the front foot.

After forcing an error, the Tigers were again on the attack, and Johnson pulled all the right strings, calling for the ball to their right before putting Michael ‘Flash’ Gordon over for a try.

Gordon worked hard for it, fending away Power before swan diving over for an emphatic grand final try.

Jacobs made no mistake with the conversion attempt, and Bungendore led 12-4 after 15 minutes.

Coming out of trouble, Harden again made a telling error, with Bungendore back on the attack.

That man again, Carl Johnson, was this time perched on the left edge, and he called for the ball before putting hard-running Peter Mortimer over for a try.

Jacobs slotted the conversion, and the Tigers led 18-4 in the 22nd minute.

Ill-discipline was costing the Hawks, who seemingly couldn’t get to a kick, while Bungendore enjoyed the lion’s share of possession.  

Johnson was carving up Harden, with the playmaker setting up his fourth try of the first half when putting Euston Leota over.

Johnson pushed into acting half and scooted before passing to Leota, who was just too big and strong when powering over to the left of the posts.

Jacobs slotted the easy conversion attempt, and the Tigers led 24-4 with three minutes remaining in the first half, which would remain the score at the break.

Similar to their start in the first half, Harden scored first in the second half, keeping their homes of a comeback alive.

It took some Austin Power magic, with the fullback stepping and weaving his way to an excellent try to the right of the posts, and following the successful conversion, Harden trailed Bungendore 24-10 after 39 minutes.

It was a scrappy second half as Bungendore defended their lead while the Hawks started to throw the ball around in a bid to reduce the deficit.

Credit to Bungendore, who held their nerve when on their line for back-to-back sets, keeping Harden out.

Time and time again, Harden chanced their arm, but the Tigers kept finding an answer for the visiting Hawks.

Putting an exclamation mark on their efforts, Connor Griffiths sealed the result late in the second half, with the hard-running winger crossing on the right touchline.

Jacobs soaked up the final moments as he lined up the conversion attempt, and with the fullback slotting the kick from the sideline, the home crowd cheered as Bungendore extended their lead to 30-10 and secured the victory and their ninth-ever GTS premiership.