By Chris W.B

There's always something magical about an inaugural final. The gritty match that was the first ASRL Premiership decider back in 1916. The glitz and glamour as Central cruised home comfortably over a spirited Townsville in the 2002 BFC. The thrills as Tamworth City and Eastwood played out an unlikely final in the inaugural Crown Casino Risk.
Today, at Stadium Australia, another tradition was born. The Second Division has provided thrillers and thrashings. Legends have been born in the shadow of Premier League. Players such as Sebastian Azema, Rodger Randal, and Dominik Bush have been born as potential stars. Players such as Martin Offiah, Sean Hoppe, and Matthew Rodwell have been given a second chance in a division every bit as closely contested as its big brother.
And it's come down to these two teams. Two sides who were formed in 2001/2002 as part of the ASRL's first expansion since 1983. The Falcons made the finals in their debut year, whilst the Destructors (then the Country Diamonds) have had to endure two years in the wilderness before finding success under new coach Brent Douglas. They've both overcome classy foes, they've both endured dark periods, and now they're both here to claim the Second Division title.

Brett Kimmorley got things underway, the ball sailing high and long before finding Hazem El Masri, who passed inside to give Darren Britt the first hit-up of the match. It was a spirited opening, fitting of such a big event, El Masri scoring first points in the 2nd minute courtesy of an offside penalty.

The big crowd and the speculation surrounding the final showed early, several players clearly in shock as they made uncharacteristic errors. Sebastian Azema, usually faultless, was the key offender- but a young guy in such a big match can have a few nerves. There was no excuse when Brett Kimmorley dropped it cold on his own ten, giving Central Coast excellent field position. The Falcons aren't a side to take lightly, Talau brushing aside some weak defence before passing to Jason Hetherington who scored the first try in a Second Division Grand Final. El Masri converted, and Central Coast held a solid 8-0 lead in the 9th minute.

Wollongong domintated possession for the next ten minutes, but couldn't convert the possession into points, continually thwarted by solid Falcons' defence. Another Brett Kimmorley knock-on again saw Wollongong under pressure, and in a carbon copy of their first try- Central Coast rucked it out before Hetherington passed inside for Hazem El Masri. He again converted, and Central Coast held a commanding 14-0 lead.

Things looked grim when Sebastian Azema was on the end of a confusing passage of play. About to be thrown into touch, El Masri toed the ball inside, where it was played out by Vagana before Azema collected and scored. The video referee ruled that Vagana had knocked it on, and Wollongong were off the hook.

It took one lacklustre set of six from Central Coast to give Wollongong the chance the wanted. Brian Tabuli's clearing kick was accidentally deflected off Steve Reardon, giving Wollongong excellent field position. Young Brenton Pommery crashed over from the tap, and Wollongong trailed 14-4 after Opan missed the difficult conversion.

The kick-off proved a double whammy for Central Coast, as Gunter Franz left the field with a rolled ankle, and the Destructors began to make easy metres into Central Coast's territory. Brett Kimmorley finally got something right, his grubber sitting up perfectly for a flying Michael Withers to grab his side's second try! Opan converted, and in the 27th minute it was 14-10. Two minutes had changed the face of the game, and now it was Central Coast who needed something special.

The Destructors finally hit the lead in the 33rd minute, young Howard Opan proving why he was such a hot prospect in his debut year with a bashing run of some sixty metres. Opan left no one standing in his wake, crashing over exhausted before converting his own try to make it 16-14 leading into the break.

Central Coast again wheathered intense pressure shortly before halftime, four consecutive penalties giving Wollongong ample opportunity to put another nail into Central Coast's coffin. But the class of the minor premiers showed, ably repelling all assaults until the siren sounded.

HALFTIME: Wollongong 16 lead Central Coast 14

If Central Coast expected the halftime break to take anything out've Wollongong's engine, they were mistaken, the Destructors coming out doubly vicious in the second half. Kimmorley was playing at his best, his kicks continually putting Robbie O'Davis and Hazem El Masri under pressure. Despite this, Wollongong were continually fought off by Central Coast's sliding defence.

The first fifteen minutes of the second half had Central Coast on the backfoot, either bringing it out of their own end, or trying to prevent Wollongong from running away with the game. In particular it was Jamie Ainscough and Michael Withers who pressured Central Coast's defence- continually threatening to isolate and outpace Phillipe Bernat-Salles- the angry Frenchman.

A penalty goal in the 56th from El Masri settled things as well as levelling the scores, before Robbie O'Davis pulled out a piece of individual brilliance to break the deadlock in the 62nd. Receiving the ball from the scrum, O'Davis shook off Kimmorley and saw a yawning gap ahead of him. He ran into it, only to have Withers confront him five out. O'Davis stepped like a pro, crashing in under the sticks. El Masri amazingly missed the routine conversion, and it was 20-16.

Howard Opan brought his side within two when he kicked a penalty for a high tackle on Brenton Pomery, with El Masri again extending the lead back to four in the 73rd after Kimmorley and Prince got into an amusing fist fight.

The game hung at an uneasy balance as the final ten minutes began to tick down, with Wollongong looking for that miracle try. It came- but instead for Willie Talau. Some absolutely woeful defence allowed the Falcons to make easy ground, no piece more embarassing than Woolford and Pomery colliding in attempting to drag down Braam van Straaten. Talau's try was lucky, as Scott McLean's attempted intercept instead found an unmarked Talau who strolled over untouched. El Masri converted, and the game was wrapped up at 28-18.

Howard Opan's second try in the 78th set up a nail-biting finish, the rookie combining with fellow youngster Brad Commins to score a marvellous try. Commins outpaced Bernat-Salles, offloading inside to find Opan. Opan's second try was converted by him, and with less than a ninety seconds to go it was 28-24.

Ironically, it was Howard Opan- who had been Wollongong's best- who snuffed all chance of a miracle win. From the kick-off Opan knocked on, and immediately knew his side couldn't win. He kicked the ball out in frustration, and both sides seemed reluctant to pack the scrum. The siren sounded, and Central Coast celebrated their ascension in style. Wollongong still had reason to smile, they have a chance at ascension should they beat Canberra in a wildcard game.

FULL TIME
Central Coast Falcons 28
Robbie O'Davis
Hazem El Masri
Willie Talau
Jason Hetherington
El Masri 6/7
def.
Wollongong Destructors 24
Michael Withers
Howard Opan 2
Brenton Pomery
Opan 4/5

PoM Points
Jason Hetherington.......3 (Best and Fairest)
Howard Opan................2
Hazem El Masri..............1

Anthony Magro Grand Final Speech

Ladies and Gentlemen *A emotional pause as Anthony looks down and tries to regather himself* I would first like to introduce the dual Premiers for first division- the Central Coast Falcons. *the whole 22 man squad enters the room and stand behind Anthony*

This has been a year to remember for th Falcons, from a woeful and heartless year last year to this year which can only be sumed up as a winner for the club. My merits and praise goes to the Wollongong Destructors who blew everyone away halfway through the season with their new style through their new coach Brent Douglas, who crafted a strong, solid and threatening squad. We were all amazed after they demolished the Sydney Oilers in the semi-finals, proving they did deserve a shot at the finals.

As the score shows it was a high scoring match with each team never calling it quits. At four tries a piece, the real battle was Howard Opan against Hazem El Masri in a kicking battle but it was our very own Hazem El Masri who came through kicking an amazing 6 from 7 attempts even with the roaring distraction of the crowd as well as our try scorers Robbie O'Davis, Hazem El Masri, Willie Talau and Jason Hetherington.

This season has been a thriller with never a clear leader with the minor premiership jumping between Sydney Oilers, Coffs Harbour, Port Morsby, Christchurch and ourselfs, and while I'm here I have to give praise to Luke Sharpe who has coached the Christchurch squad to 2nd without the high profiled star players which is a huge achievement. I'd now like to announance the entire Central Coast Falcons squad, of without each and every one of these players, our season would not be the same.

1. Robbie O'Davis
2. Phillipe Bernat-Sallas
3. Nigel Vagana
4. Sebastian Azema
5. Hazem El Masri
6. Brian Tabouli
7. Scott Prince
8. Darren Britt
9. Gunter Franz
10. Solomona Haumona
11. Willie Talau
12. Braam van Straaten
13. Jason Hetherington
14. Chris Flannery
15. Mark O'Neil
16. Alan Tongue
17. Graham Mackey
18. Sam Isemonger
19. Steve Readon
20. Barry Ward
21. Gavin Lester
22. Guiseppi Magro

However putting aside the win just for a second, a few player will be leaving the Falcons squad for the up-coming season. I would like to give a farewell to Sebastian Azema, Willie Talau, Braam van Straaten and Scott Prince. You will be well missed and your boots will be hard to fill. After this meeting a celebrative party will be at the Entrance League club, everyone is invited and will include more from the Falcons camp, awards and some of the Falcons greats such as Daryl Halligan and former captain Paul Harrigon. I hope to see you all there.