IT took two bites at extra time for the Moruya Sharks reserve grade team to dive into the Group 16 grand final.
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A 20-metre field goal by Nathan McDiarmid handed the Sharks a narrow 21-20 win against the Bega Roosters in the major semi-final at Ack Weyman Oval on August 2.
The combined margin of the three games between the teams this season sits at three points after the Sharks won round six 26-24 and round 13 ended in a 12-all draw.
Moruya took the early ascendancy through two penalties but Gavin Olive's dive for the corner fell short as the ball was knocked loose moments before he placed it.
Bega catapulted forward and put the first points on the scoreboard through a try to prop Billy Hudson which was converted by Steven Luff.
A gusty wind blew across the field and affected the next kick-off as it was knocked-on in goals.
Moruya's Jack Keating ran at the defensive line before putting Lance Nye in a gap to score the Sharks first points.
The Sharks continued to attack and earned a repeat set when an attempted intercept was dropped.
From the next set of tackles the Sharks worked an overlap for easy try to Adrian Andy.
He ran the ball behind the posts for an easy conversion by Craig Cottington and Moruya had a 10-6 lead after 20 minutes.
The Sharks had momentum for the remainder of the half but bombed a certain try which was fumbled in goal and lost possession on attacking raids on the final tackle.
With 40 seconds to go in the first half Andy scored his second try after McDiarmid broke the line before drawing and passing to his outside men.
Andy finished off the movement and Cottington converted for a 16-6 lead at the break.
Knock-ons plagued the opening 10 minutes of the second stanza.
The Sharks then drew first blood and opened up a 14-point lead with a try to McDiarmid.
Bega's restart went dead and the Sharks were immediately on the back foot.
Spurred on by the deficit, visitor's prop Jeb White crashed over next to the posts.
Luff duly converted and Bega trailed 20-12 with 20 minutes remaining.
The Roosters had gained the momentum and scored five minutes later through Ricky Stapleton, the conversion taking it to 20-18.
With six minutes remaining Bega forced a line dropout.
On the next set of tackles, Bega's Hudson was tackled in front of the posts, about 20 metres out, and he fell to the ground, losing control of the ball.
Sharks captain Justin Zutt scooped up the ball and raced into the clear only to be called back.
After consulting the touch judges and team captains Bega was awarded a penalty and Luff converted with ease to draw level at 20-all.
Each team had their chances at field goals in regulation but Moruya's sailed right right and Bega's was charged down.
In extra time Moruya had better field position but its execution was lacking and Bega struggled to gain metres.
In the second half the Roosters had a chance after they were awarded a repeat set.
Moruya defended their line stoutly and forced a knock-on, however, the home side struggled to get within field goal territory.
In the dwindling seconds of extra time, Hudson had another field goal shot but missed and the teams went into a second extra time.
Early in the first five minutes Moruya was awarded a scrum and two tackles later McDiarmid calmly slotted the 20-metre kick to book a grand final berth.
Moruya's best on field was dummy half Merv Brierley, who constantly darted around the ruck, and its players' player was damaging forward Jacob Hope-Hodgetts.
The Roosters tackle Candelo-Bemboka United in the preliminary final on August 9.