Grand finals aren't meant to be easy.
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Two yellow cards, a missed penalty to tie things up and then redemption moments afterwards, the 2020 South Coast Monaro grand final at the Taralga Showground on Saturday, October 3 had it all.
Up by 13 points at half time, the Taralga Tigers would have felt like they were in the box seat, but the Jindabyne Bushpigs had other things on their mind.
Two quick tries in the second half, followed by a third by the away side left the Tigers reeling, but they still had more fight left in them.
With minutes remaining, Tigers captain and first choice goal kicker Joel Croker had a chance to level the scores, but missed and everyone thought that was that.
Try telling that to last year's runners up though.
Croker copped a high tackle in virtually the last play of the match to win a penalty and it was over to backup kicker Nicholas Bennett to do what his captain couldn't do.
He did with style from 30 metres out, directly in front.
An early try in the first half of extra time by Sam Conlon gave the Tigers a 24-19 lead and that was the last of the scoring.
The Tigers had gone one step further than the previous season.
Tigers coach Will Hedley said he knew the 13 point lead wasn't enough.
"The Bushpigs started a little slow, but they worked their way back into it," Hedley said.
"We knew they would come back, so we had to keep some of the possession and get up the other end."
The feeling at final whistle though, utter relief.
"As a former player, it is good to see all the youngsters coming through," he said.
"I know the feeling.
"They did it the hard way and they'll remember this one for how close it was."
While the Tigers were heartbroken from their grand final loss last year, winger Steve Cummins also shared the feeling, but with the Goulburn Bulldogs in the Canberra Region Rugby League competition.
Cummins said it felt "bloody good" to be on the right end of the scoreline this time around.
Although union is a completely different sport to league, Cummins, who had to be persuaded to join the team, said he played a pretty similar role on the wing.
"Goulburn and Crookwell didn't have a team in league this season," Cummins said.
"I have a few good mates here and they roped me in.
"All in all though, playing on the wing is pretty similar to league.
"I see the wing in union as more of a second fullback."
As for the Jindabyne Bushpigs, they did well to finish the season as runners up from fourth position on the ladder.
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