THE Moruya Sharks beat the Bega Roosters for the first time this season and booked a grand final berth with a 40-26 win in Group 16's first grade major semi-final at Ack Weyman Oval on August 2.
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Although it was the visitors who scored first through hooker Hayden Parberry.
He scooted 20 metres to score to the right side of the posts, however, the conversion was missed and Bega led 4-nil after seven minutes.
A wobbly kick-off by Dennis Green was left to bounce and it ran away from Bega and forced a line drop out.
The match settled for the next five minutes as each team finished their sets, but none broke through.
After some early attacks, Moruya finally broke through with a one-two play by the Brierley brothers.
Aaron Brierley caught the ball at first receiver and grubbered through.
His brother Caine collected it and drew in the fullback before he passed to Aaron, who carried across a defender to score.
Green converted a Moruya led 6-4 after 15 minutes.
Five minutes later Bega re-took the lead.
Roosters' five-eighth James Bower-Scott dummied on the fifth tackle and ran through the defensive line to score next to the posts.
He converted his own try to give Bega what would be its final lead.
Moruya defended Bega's next attack and began to march up the field.
The Sharks were given back-to-back penalties and had a penalty tap 15 metres out.
Bill Halligan punished the Roosters as he barged off three defenders to score and Green's conversion put Moruya ahead 12-10.
Moruya had a roll-on and were in Bega's territory when a kick was charged down.
The Sharks regathered and were given six again, however, it didn't need all six tackles as a back line play set Hayden Murray up to score in the left-hand corner.
Undettered by the gusty cross-field wind, Green slotted the conversion for a 18-10 Moruya lead.
Five minutes from half-time, Bega's Blake Robinson ran for the try line but after he was tackled the referee determined it was a double movement.
Moruya marched forward again and forced a line drop out.
On the stroke of half-time Aaron hit Caine with quick pass on an angled line.
He hit the hole five metres out and ran the ball behind the posts.
Green converted and Moruya led 24-10 at half-time.
Bega gave its fan hope with the first points of the second half.
The Moruya Sharks let a kick bounce and sat up perfectly for Dylan Aldridge to score in the corner.
Bower-Scott was unfazed by the gusty wind and slotted the side line conversion for a 24-16 score line.
Moruya clenched its jaws over the next 15 minutes as it kept Bega scoreless and raced to a 34-16 lead.
It posted tries through a dazzling run by Jake Clarke and solid support play by Caine.
Clarke ran from the back of a scrum and Caine scored his second try in the corner after Murray popped the ball out of a tackle.
The Roosters gave the home side a late scare after another kick was left to bounce.
Adam Blacka jumped for the bouncing ball and passed to Aldridge, who scored his second in front of the Bega supporters' corner.
Bower-Scott nailed another difficult conversion and Bega trailed 34-22.
Four minutes later Black scored his own four-pointer but the kick was missed.
In the shadows of full-time Clarke had a brace and Green potted his sixth conversion to give Moruya a grand final berth at Bega Recreation Ground on August 16.