THE Steamers have gone down 16-11 to Griffith in a grand final rugby classic in Wagga this afternoon.
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It was a try apiece but in the end it was Griffith’s Dan Rawaqa who proved the difference with the boot.
The former Fijian international kicked a field goal, two penalties and a conversion in his sides 16 points and unbelievably hit the cross bar with two other attempts.
The Steamers dominated the opening exchanges and were camped in Griffith’s half for the first 20 minutes but it was Rawaqa who opened the scoring on 21 minutes with a penalty goal.
Blake Le Cornu levelled the scores inside five minutes and when he slotted another on the half hour the Steamers had hit the front 6-3.
But with just two minutes to go in the first half it was another Fijian international and Griffith captain, Marika Vunibaka, who broke the line and delivered the ball on a plate Tinomana Kaue.
Rawaqa converted and then on the stroke of halftime added a field goal to have the Blacks in front 13-6 at the break.
Griffith dominated the opening 20 minutes of the second half but could only manage another three points before the Steamers made a late charge.
Sustained pressure with just five minutes to go saw Richard Manion put Le Cornu through and have the Steamers within five points.
It was Manion again who hit a pass from Tom Wilmore and exploded through the Griffith defence with the line in sight only to have the referee pull it back for a forward pass.
The Steamers fans were howling and not for the last time.
From the scrum Rawaqa kicked early and over the head of winger Kell MacDougall only for the referee to hand the line out to Griffith because he ruled it had been touched by the Steamers.
It was the final play of the day.
“The forward pass was line ball and could have gone either way,” coach Mick Raynes said.
“But no one knows who could have touched Rawaqa’s kick, certainly no one from the Steamers.”