NSW Scorpions Win Elite Eight Men's Title

The New South Wales Scorpions have defeated the New South Wales Mets by one touchdown in a thrilling encounter in the Men’s Elite Eight final at Port Macquarie’s Regional Sports Stadium.

In a match that saw several lead changes, the Mets hit back from a two touchdown deficit in the final minutes to level the game at six touchdowns a piece, before the Scorpions scored in the final minute to take a 7-6 win. 

The Mets were the first to get on the scoreboard, when Ben Moylan crossed in the fifth minute off the back of a penalty. The Scorpions hit back in the next minute however, when Simon Lang scored in the corner to level the scores at 1-1.

Mets’ captain Steve Roberts led by example at the midway mark of the first half, scoring a diving touchdown to regain the lead for his side.

The Mets had back-to-back sets of six on their attacking line late in the first half but were unable to capitalise. After two intercept attempts in the minute prior, the Scorpions’ Nathan Wong made it third time lucky when he finally latched onto his third attempt and ran the length of the field to level up the game at 2-all.

Winger Jonathan Palau showed his impressive speed in the eighteenth minute which resulted in a touchdown for the Scorpions, giving his side the lead for the first time in the game, and they took that one touchdown advantage into half-time, with the scores at 3-2.

Both teams were strong in defence in the opening five minutes of the second half, unable to turn possession into touchdowns. The Scorpions took their lead out to two touchdowns soon after when Sam Brisby was the recipient of a great short ball from co-captainMaurice Kennedy, scoring to give his side a 4-2 lead.

The Mets were quick to hit back however, with Trent Touma scoring to take his side back to within one touchdown of the Scorpions.

This kicked off an impressive attacking array from both teams, with the sides going trading blows with two touchdowns each in a short space of time. Scorpions’ co-captain Daniel Barton led by example in the set after Touma’s touchdown, scoring to take his side’s lead out 5-3.  The Mets hit back in the next set of six, when an acting half run from Ben Moylan saw Anthony Ziade score in the eleventh minute to bring it back to a one touchdown deficit, 5-4. The Scorpions’ Daniel Chiddy was the next on the bandwagon, scoring a touchdown to give his side a 6-4 lead. The Mets’ Scott Buckley brought his side’s deficit back to one touchdown after he scored following an acting half run from Roberts.

It was a similar story with four minutes remaining, when another acting half run from Roberts set up winger Tim Good for a touchdown, putting the two teams’ level on the scoreboard at 6-6.

The final minutes were frantic, with both sides desperate to gain that one touchdown advantage so close to full-time. It looked like the Mets were going to be the team to do this in the final 90 seconds of the match when they found space in their attacking in-goal area, but an intercept from the Scorpions saw the side move the ball down to the other end of the field, with Kennedy scoring to give his side a 7-6 advantage with 30 seconds left in the game.

The Mets tried desperately to make the most of the final seconds and level the scores, but were beaten by the siren, with the Scorpions taking the inaugural Elite Eight Men’s final, 7-6.

The Scorpions’ Nathan Wong was rewarded for his strong game, being named the Player of the Final.

The Alliance’s Stuart Brierty was named the inaugural Terry Jacks medallist, the Player of the Series accolade.

Stay tuned to the website for highlights of the match, as well the wrap up of the event.