One-thousand or more Tathra fans surged into the Bega in-goal after prop Mitch Carter lunged over for the game-winning try on Sunday.
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In fading afternoon light, the Tathra Sea Eagles had brought and end to a six-decade-long premiership wait, defeating the Bega Roosters 24-18 in a stunning grand final finish.
The points couldn't be awarded until the cheering masses cleared the field, but on-field referee Braiden McIntosh indeed pointed to the spot under the posts and blew the whistle on the try that brought Bega's season undone.
It had come in the dying minute of a first grade clash that will go down in history as one of Group 16's best.
Michelle Scott had delivered the pre-game Welcome to Country, honouring the Djiringanj and Yuin Nation Peoples, and cheekily putting the nod of support behind her nephews in the Tathra outfit.
Then one of the biggest crowds ever at a Bega grand final, with an estimated 3000-plus packing the ground, stood for the National Anthem and the kick-off.
After an unsettling finish to the reserve grade match, fans settled for an excellent display of sportsmanship and prowess from both teams, who ran bone-crunching hit ups through the ruck in opening exchanges.
Both clubs were mindful of the danger their opponents represented, players like Ryan Apps were particularly heavily guarded, as was Tathra forward Reuben Smahel, who threatened to punch a hole in the Bega line with a couple of devastating runs.
The respect for each other was exemplified at the end of play when Bega captain Apps said in his runner-up speech: "We couldn't get any better than this ... the best thing about this is we go in, we go in hard and at the end of it we can have a beer with the Tathra team".
Bega had got in the early points when Tom McMillan found a gap off a strong right-hand movement by Bega at close range.
The Roosters had looked for repeat chances there later with Shannon Shepherdson running onto some well-weighted kicks by his brother Josh.
However, both options would go wanting as Shannon was either bungled into touch, or the ball bounced unfavourably and found it's own way to the sideline.
Tathra's reply wasn't too far away when they pushed the Bega line and a leftward movement saw Connor Carr out of the centres drawing in a number of defenders, but through sheer determination and will he barged them all over to hammer the ball down on the chalk.
We couldn't get any better than this ... the best thing about this is we go in, we go in hard and at the end of it we can have a beer with the Tathra
- Ryan Apps
Both kicks had gone wanting in a game where missed chances with the boot could have made a dramatic difference.
Despite Bega pressuring the line well, Tathra's defence proved formidable and it was the Eagles getting one-up on their Bega rivals later in the first half when again play pushed towards the left.
Fullback Kyle Shepherdson fired a massive cut-out pass wide to winger Ken Mitchell who had enough of an overlap to defend against his inside and score wide on the left edge.
Chants of 'Let's go Tathra' erupted from the southern end of the ground as the Eagles again repelled an attacking raid from Bega, but the fifth tackle kick option from the Roosters was wrapped up mid-air by Tathra edge Robert Hogg, who bolted 90-metres upfield and slammed the ball down for the points just a hair before he was bungled into touch.
With the kick finding the mark, the Sea Eagles took charge 14-4 into the break.
Not to be outdone, the Roosters came back firing as they had often done with a quick second half recovery.
Winger John Parbery was the man to deliver the first try in Bega's fight-back, continuing his good form from previous weeks to best the Tathra outside edge and cross deep in the pocket with Bega clawing back to 14-8.
Just minutes later, right centre Scott Galeano found the line after some runs in the first half already had him looking like a threat to the Tathra line with some strong fends.
Tathra had played at the grubber kick option and Bega regathered for a fresh set of six with an early pass seeing Galeano pushing out to the right edge for the four pointer.
Josh Shepherdson found the mark with the boot despite the difficult angle and play locked up at 14-all with about 20 minutes to go.
The second half was where Man of the Match Hayden Parbery really started to make an impact with good scoots out of dummy half cutting up the Bega line, while clever offloads found the mark and set up two tries for Tathra that ultimately gave them the win.
The first was from about 50-metres off the Bega line, Parbery cut a blindside line up the left and made about 10 metres to break the Bega line before firing a pass to Kyle Shepherdson who was already on the blast up the field.
Then when Shepherdson lured in the last lines of defence from Bega, a long pass left to Adam Blacka in support had him charging in clear air to find the line left of the posts.
Just seven minutes remained and the Eagles were teetering on a marginal lead of four points with Bega not out by any stretch.
It took just another three minutes for the Roosters to march up the field on the back of a strong set and play went left with Scott Fuller finding room left of the posts.
The angle didn't appear too severe and many expected the Roosters to get ahead by the two, but the kick drifted off course and play locked up at 18-18.
And then as it looked certain to go for extra time, Tathra were pushing in from about 30 out - with this sport reporter expecting a field goal attempt - but again Parbery scooted and a low offload was snapped up by prop Mitch Carter who flew across the line right under the posts in front of the adoring Tathra crowd.
Tathra captain Malcolm Green said the result was down to the camaraderie and synergy at the refreshed Tathra club.
"We all love each other and we're all brothers, and that's why we're all together here and played so well all year," Green said.
Each line met with raucous applause from the same energetic crowd, who had stormed the field just minutes before. The Tathra cheer squad was even headlined by former Eagle and NRL player Adam Elliott, wearing his home club jumper.