They’ve defied expectations to be here.
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But, like the little engine that could, the Macksville Sea Eagles have quietly chugged away at their own pace all season, undeterred by the naysayers.
And now they’re here, up against the second-placed Coffs Comets in today’s Grand Final showdown.
But don’t let the rankings fool you – last week they bulldozed over the grade’s minor premiers in the decider.
At the turn of the milennium, the Sea Eagles were unstoppable, with five premierships in six years.
It’s been a decade of introspection since then, but perhaps the time has come again for the mighty Macksville Sea Eagles to once again take pride of place at the Group 2 table.
Can they do it? Find out here as we roll out LIVE updates of the game.
The scoring starts after 10 minutes with Coffs rolling over the line. But an easy conversion is missed, 4:0.
Looking around the oval there’s a sea of blue. The pressure must be on the Comets despite having the home-side advantage.
The Comets are throwing everything at this – the thuds of the tackles as they crash into the Macksville boys are slightly sickening. But the Sea Eagles can take it.
Macksville forces an error and takes the scrum 20 metres out from their own line.
Macksville have had enough of taking hits and are starting to hit back just as hard. It’s brutal out here today.
After half an hour, Macksville is yet to break this solid Coffs Harbour defensive line.
A Comet knock-on 10 metres out from their own line gives Macksville their best shot to score yet.
No dice.
The Coffs hooker just reaches across the line with one arm at the end of the next set. Matthew Curry converts taking the score to 10-0.
Ben Cockbain drives like a tank through five Comets defenders but is held up on the line.
Half time and Macksville needs to start making some more opportunities for themselves if they want to get in this game.
Macksville made a break for the line but lost it in a silly offload. Comets picked it up and raced down the sideline for forty metres before being hunted down by Joey McKay and Cameron Soutman.
A high tackle off the next ball gives the Comets the opportunity they needed to score their third try of the day.
The conversion takes their lead to 16 points with Macksville still scoreless.
The next set sees Macksville break away with the best distance they’ve made yet. James Weimer drags three comets across the line for Macksville’s first.
Conversion unsuccessful, score is now 16:4.
The Comets didn’t like that try and set out to punish the Sea Eagles. A huge tackle on Tyler Blair has him seeing stars. But he’s up and at it after a few minutes.
Macksville is on a roll now, with the Comets seemingly straggling in defense and making error after error. They’re hitting hard but they’re hitting sloppy.
Kaji Buchanan takes it across the line for the Sea Eagles’ second.
Jack Ireland converts, taking the score to 16:10.
The rain has started up again and the boys are getting dropsy.
The last Macksville fumble allows the Comets’ Matt Cheeseman to find a break and score under the posts.
With 12 minutes to go the try is converted taking the score to 22:10.
A penalty kick takes the Comets to 24. With less than 10 minutes to go, does this put a Macksville victory just out of reach?
Maybe not. Kaji Buchanan makes an outstanding lead for himself, the ball is offloaded successfully, back to Kaji and he’s over!
No conversion mean Macksville is now at 14 to the Comets’ 24.
Spoke too soon. Coffs Harbour’s Steve Spencer makes a huge solo breakaway, running the 60 metres to score under the posts.
The conversion takes the Comets’ lead to 16. Score is 30:14.
It’s full time, folks and, alas, it’s not to be for the Sea Eagles this year.
But an amazing effort by all the boys, and a huge victory for the Nambucca Valley today which came away with two premierships.
“I just want to thank the community which has really gotten behind us in the last couple of weeks. It makes us proud to play for mighty Macksville,” captain Brad Southan said.
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Mel Leigh Dee
Mel is a journalist at the Guardian News and is based in Macksville.
Mel is a journalist at the Guardian News and is based in Macksville.
