The team in green topped off an invincible 20-0 season when they won the match 26-17, with tries to Jed Bolland, vice-captain James Wright, and Troy Hirst. They also cleverly opted for three penalty goals throughout the match, ultimately making the difference on the day.
Silverdale captain Brad Martin was named player of the match after an enormous defensive effort and multiple line breaks leading to tries.
Martin spoke openly after the match of the trials his team had been through on the way to lifting the Cup.
"This team's built on our defence. The foundation of the team. We've been working for four years now to get to this point. Yeah, super proud of the boys.
"(In previous years) it's been heartbreaking the last three years. We knew we were good enough last year, so, to get that one back, we needed to go all the way," he said.
The first points of the game came from Pōneke slowing the ball down in the ruck, resulting in a penalty. Bolland knocked over three points as an early settler.
The home crowd made their collective voice known when Silverdale first five eighth Revin Storey nearly nabbed the first try when he broke the Wanderers line and chipped over the fullback. The ball rolled over the try line, but was grounded by Pōneke’s Potene Rolls-Paewai, saving a certain try.
Pōneke responded in the 13th minute with a cleverly worked lineout routine on the 22 metre line. The ball went short to Sam Gardner, who tore away down the touchline, flicking the ball outside again to Remei Diouf, and onto hooker Oscar Wilson who had the easiest job, diving over the line to score. The conversion was unsuccessful.
Pōneke were caught offside in their 22 just five minutes later, giving Bolland another easy three points, taking the score to 6-5.
The first Silverdale try came off the back of a dominant scrum deep inside the Pōneke 22. Under penalty advantage they went off the back to Storey, who brought it into contact and flicked an offload. The ball went through the hands wide left, into the hands of Troy Hirst, who broke a tackle and dove over. The conversion was unsuccessful.
On the stroke of half time, Silverdale set another scrum deep inside Pōneke’s 22. This time they went right, down the blindside, into the hands of vice-captain Wright, who stepped off his right, broke a tackle and dived over for the Dale’s second try. The conversion missed and the score at half time saw Silverdale 16-5 up.
After the break, Silverdale was straight back on the attack. Pōneke dropped the restart inside their 22 and the home side made the most of the resulting scrum. Again they went to the blindside, this time ending up with Bolland, who acrobatically scored under pressure right by the corner flag. Bolland converted his own try from the touchline, making the score 23-5 with 38 minutes to play.
Wanderers hit back just three minutes later though. After a period of pressure inside Silverdale's 22, half back Jimmy-Lee Hongara looked to go himself before finding Alex Morrisey, stepping off the left before breaking two tackles and reaching out to score. The conversion wasn’t successful though.
The game settled into a back-and-forth rhythm before Ethan Rangi scored the pick of the match’s tries for Pōneke on the hour mark.
Diouf almost scored himself under penalty advantage, but was stopped just two metres out. First five eighth Cameron Bond stepped in to play half back and found Morrisey, who freed the arms in the tackle to offload. He found Ben Huntley, who drew two defenders and managed to pass to Rangi on the left touchline. He sprinted in and dove acrobatically across the line, touching down for Pōneke’s third of the afternoon. Bond nailed the conversion to bring the scoreline to 23-17 with 20 minutes remaining.
Pōneke found themselves offside at the ruck a few minutes later. Wright pointed to the posts and slotted the penalty, making the scoreline 26-17.
Pōneke piled on the pressure in the final 15 minutes, but Silverdale held resolutely and denied any additional points. Jackson Ephraims had the honour of booting the ball into touch and the celebrations ensued for Silverdale.
The team of the grand final, as picked by the commentary team of Thomas ‘Wheels’ Grant and Jarred Percival, was:
- Nathan Marsh (Pōneke)
- Oscar Wilson (Pōneke)
- Tempest Elisara (Silverdale)
- Zac Craig (Silverdale)
- Matt Hughes (Silverdale)
- Jude White (Silverdale)
- Brad Martin (Silverdale)
- Sam Gardner (Pōneke)
- Jackson Ephraims (Silverdale)
- Cameron Bond (Pōneke)
- Ethan Rangi (Pōneke)
- James Wright (Silverdale)
- Benjamin Huntley (Pōneke)
- Jayden Tomars-Over (Silverdale)
- Jed Bolland (Silverdale)
