Ballina Shire rugby league teams win grand finals
Ballina Shire teams picked up three rugby league junior grand final wins at the weekend, highlighted by the Ballina Seagulls Under-18s winning the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League major premiership.
Ballina did it the hard way, entering the grand final via the preliminary final after being beaten 32-14 by Kyogle in the major semi-final two weeks previously.
But headed by a three-try effort by hooker Matt Nean and a great performance by the forwards, Ballina humbled minor premiers Kyogle 36-12 in Sunday’s grand final at Maclean.
Nean was named Player of the Match.
In Saturday’s Group One junior grand finals, Lennox Head White Under-11s beat Marist Brothers 6-0 in the grand final, with Noah Brown named Player of the Match.
Ballina Seagulls also picked up a premiership in the Under-14s, beating Marist Brothers Gold 38-6. Jake Ryan was named Player of the Match.
Ballina teams contested three other grand finals.
The Under-16s lost narrowly 22-20 to Grafton Ghosts after leading 20-16 with only minutes remaining.
The Under-13s also turned in a good effort before losing 36-30 to Kyogle.
The Under-15s also were narrowly beaten, 20-16 by Marist Brothers.
