Ag College led 13-0 until late in the first half in the decider before their more experienced rivals stormed back into the contest at Conolly Rugby Complex on Saturday.

After Waratahs scored 43-point win in the major semi-final, a boilover was brewing before the minor premiers found a way to change the direction of the game.

Tim Corcoran was pleased with how the team responded to the early Aggies onslaught take a 29-18 victory.

"It was always going to take a big effort to beat our side but we knew these were the guys to do it," Corcoran said.

"They really did push us and if it wasn't for a bit of experience and level headedness it could have gone another way.

"The boys stayed pretty composed and stuck to it."

There was plenty of feeling between the two traditional rivals, but neither side really had an opportunity to score.

It took 20 minutes before Ag College got on the board through a Hamish Pennington penalty goal.

They extended their lead five minutes later when Gerard McTaggart forced his way over the line before another Pennington penalty saw their lead reach 13 points.

With two minutes left on the clock Waratahs forced a turnover and spread it wide for Callum Ramm to score in the corner.

It gave them momentum heading into half-time but still it was the university side who dominated early in the second stanza.

They had plenty of opportunities before Waratahs forced another turnover at the breakdown and within two phases had raced 80 metres to score through George Mallat.

Corcoran thought it was a defining moment.

"We also knew defence was going to win premierships," he said. "We worked pretty hard and that was a pretty defining momentum.

"It could have been a big momentum swing if they had got more points but the defence was testament to the boys."

It sparked their revival as they ran in the next three tries to set their up premiership defence.

Speedster Blake Hart gave them their first lead of the clash at the midway point of the second half.

Pennington then missed a penalty attempt, which would have put his team back in front, before Waratahs continued their charge with tries to Sam Bunny and Sam Hobbs in the last 10 minutes.

Ben Brooke forced his way over for a consolation try with the last play of the game.

It was the first time a club had successfully defended a Southern Inland title since Waratahs success in 2010-11.

Co-coach Michael Davis said it hadn't been a focus for the club all season, but it added to a special day after their second grade also repeated last year's success.

"We spoke about it once in pre-season and then forgot about it as it is hard enough winning one let alone going back-to-back," Davis said.

"Concentrating on where we were at and being in the moment was what we were focusing on but going back-to-back is bloody good."

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