It was a case of better late than never for Keas as they took out the 2019-2020 Mount Isa Rugby Union premiership on Saturday.
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The game was meant for March but then COVID arrived and halted the season as the finals were about to commence.
Originally delayed until May, it was eventually delayed until October but finally the top two sides, Euros and Keas, took to the field to play off in the decider.
Euros beat Keas in last season's decider by one point and this one was just as tight.
Euros had the best of the early exchanges but missed two getable penalty attempts in the first five minutes,
But on 10 minutes a clean burst through non-existent defence put Euros through under the posts and with an easy conversion they led 7-0,
They missed a third penalty attempt three minutes later and their wayward kicking would ultimately prove costly.
Eventually Keas got a toehold into the game and when they got a penalty in attacking territory they went for touch and were rewarded with a pushover try from their big number one.
They duly converted the try to level the scores at 7-7 midway through the first half.
The rest of the half was an arm wrestle as both sides got into good position without being able to score and it stayed 7-7 at half time, Keas surviving 10 minutes with a sinbinning after an exciteable exchange with the ref.
Keas burst out of the blocks in the second half to take the lead with their second try which they converted to make it 14-7.
But the lead lasted only ten minutes as Euros muscled up to push over in the corner before nailing a difficult conversion to level it up at 14-14.
Keas missed another penalty but half way through the half they conjured up another chance straight out in front which they scored to lead 17-14. There was time for Euros to hit back and they launched several dangerous attacks but they lacked penetration in the last 22.
With six minutes to go they thought they had burst through the defence only for the ref to call back play.
It was Euros last clear-cut opening and Keas defended with admirable resolution to close out the game and take the premiership.
Final score Keas 17, Euros 14.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
