They didn't have it all their own way and had to be at their very best to beat a gallant Brothers outfit appearing in their first grand final in 20 years bringing a huge crowd to Alec Inch Oval.

The game was a real arm wrestle in a terrifically tight first half which the Brethren led for most of, and it wasn't until the second half that the Lions' big game experience told.

Spurred on by their large support it was Brothers who struck first, Shane Dempsey pouncing on the loose ball to put them ahead on five minutes and converting to make it 6-0.

A bit of Alan Heldsinger magic saw him duck and weave through tackles to get the Maroons on the board a few minutes late but he was unable to convert his corner try.

Brothers hit back and used a penalty on 15 minutes to take the two points and double their advantage to lead 8-4.

Then Heldsinger was almost in again but the ref ruled a forward pass.

But on 24 minutes he found a great pass to Josh Wagner who crossed in the corner to level at 8-8.

Paul Costello gave the blue and whites the lead back on 34 minutes when he barged over and it seemed they would go into the sheds in the lead only for Heldsinger to waltz through on the last play and convert his own try to put Town ahead for the first time 14-12.

It seemed a huge psychological blow to Brothers who could not match their intensity in the second half.

Town pressed hard and Darcy McDonald scored a try just before the hour mark and with Heldsinger's conversion it was 20-12 and a gap in scores for the first time in the game.

Indiscipline crept in and two Brothers players were sinbinned as well as one Townie.

The Lions made the most of the advantage with tries to captain and man-of-the-match Dylan Buckingham and Wade Forster followed by a consolation try for Brothers' Victor Malua.

Town won 32-18 in the end. Wanderers won the under 15s curtain raiser.

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