I98FM Premier League Finals Wrap
Albion Park Eagles have claimed back to back I98fm Wollongong Touch Men’s Premier League titles, coming from fourth spot to then defeat Wests Red Devils 5-1 in the Grand Final.
The Eagles, bolstered by the return of Jack Lewis held on against a fast finishing Minor Premiers Thirroul 5-4 in the semi, and then took it to another level when they met Wests in the decider. The Red Devils themselves had a tough semi, sneaking past Shoalhaven, but they couldn’t take that running game into the Grand Final.
Albion Park weathering the early storm as the two sides went to halftime locked at 1 all. But it was all the Eagles in a free flowing second 20 minutes. Even a player in the sin bin didn’t slow the defending champs down, running in 4 unanswered second half tries for a 5-1 win. Jacob Lambert named player of the final.
In the women’s final, Gerringong and Dapto both won by 2 in their semis against Stringrays of Shellharbour and Corrimal respectively. At full strength, both teams had key players return for finals day, Emma Tonegato fresh from her Jillaroos campaign carving for the Lions, while Vienna Randal returned after 5 weeks out to boost the Canaries.
Tonegato was on song early for Gerringong, boosting them to an early lead, but Dapto clawed back through Randal and Cara Zaremski and there was only a try separating the two teams at half time. Both teams traded touchdowns to start the second, before the Lions finished with a flurry. Destiny Air sealing the win in a player of the final performance. Gerringong claiming its first Premier League crown 10-5.
