Southcity overcame an early deficit to score its second Group Nine premiership with a 22-18 win over Gundagai at Equex Centre on Sunday.
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The Bulls were slow out of the blocks and trailed 14-0 after 14 minutes before they worked their way into the contest.
The minor premiers had hardly touched the ball as last year’s premiers roared out to the early lead following tries to Dane O’Hehir and Dylan Cole.
Captain-coach James Smart then slotted a penalty goal before the Bulls soon got things back on track.
Hooker Pani Manawatu got the ball rolling he dived over after picking up his own ricocheted kick to score his teams first after 17 minutes.
Usaia O’Sullivan then got the Bulls within four points when he pounced on a perfectly timed kick from Nathan Rose eighth minutes later.
Southcity then took the lead into the break after some fast work from Kyle McCarthy.
The Bulls halfback kicked ahead for himself and dived around Kieran Pearce, who was hoping to shephard the ball over the line to score.
Despite trailing early, Bull captain-coach Nick Skinner was confident he his what it takes to get back into the contest.
“We had that last game where it was similar sort of circumstances so we knew we could come back,” Skinner said. “We just kept composed, which was good, and we just need our fair share of the ball.
“We were struggling to get over the line in the second half but we grinded it out.”
Taking a 16-14 lead into the break, the Bulls extended their advantage when Jade Hodge swooped on a loose ball to score a 55-metre effort to see the Bulls lead by eight with 23 minutes left.
Gundagai scored through Damian Willis in the final 40 seconds and had one play to steal an unlucky victory but it was Southcity’s time to shine.
Skinner was thrilled to come away with the win, the club’s first since 2011.
He said the bond between the players helped them get out of a difficult situation.
“The bond that we have among everything to work for each other is pretty strong and I think that is what got us there in the end,” Skinner said.
Not everything went to plan for the Bulls, losing second rower Mick Glanville to a shoulder injury after 20 minutes while Hodge has forced to the wing.
Skinner got through plenty of work to guide he team to victory and was named John Hill Medallist in a man of the match performance.
After struggling to regain his best form following knee surgery during last year’s finals series, the 28-year-old felt he finally found somewhere near his best form at the best time of the year.
